(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) – Stefan Nacke (CDU), a member of the German Bundestag, has advocated for the extensive abolition of so-called Minijobs, citing mounting concerns about their long-term impact on the structure of the labor market. According to Nacke, these forms of marginal employment are increasingly supplanting standard jobs, particularly in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and cleaning services. Although originally conceived as short-term employment opportunities for students and retirees, Minijobs have, in his view, evolved into a parallel labor system that undermines the integrity of Germany’s social welfare architecture. As the head of the Arbeitnehmergruppe — a group of 62 CDU parliamentarians focused on the theme of labor — Nacke argues that the widespread use of Minijobs shifts the financial burden of health care, pension contributions, and unemployment insurance away from employers and employees, placing it instead on the broader public.
Representatives from the employer side have voiced strong opposition to Nacke’s proposal. Steffen Kampeter, Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), dismissed the initiative, asserting that Minijobs fulfill a necessary role in industries where full-time employment is impractical or structurally unviable. He emphasized the importance of preserving industrial employment and activating labor reserves in the construction sector, warning that eliminating Minijobs would not yield tangible benefits for economic growth or competitiveness.
In contrast, support for Nacke’s position has emerged from the trade union Verdi. Its chairman, Frank Werneke, endorsed the call for reform, arguing that Minijobs disproportionately disadvantage women by limiting their career advancement and increasing the risk of poverty in old age. He also questioned the relevance of Minijobs in a labor market increasingly defined by shortages in skilled labor, suggesting that such employment models are ill-suited to contemporary economic demands.
Minijobs were introduced in 2003 as part of the Hartz labor market reforms, which aimed to simplify access to legal employment for low-income earners. Under current regulations, individuals in Minijobs can earn up to 556 euros per month without being subject to mandatory contributions for health insurance, long-term care, or unemployment benefits. Employers are only required to pay minimal flat-rate contributions. Although the reforms also introduced Midijobs to bridge the gap between marginal and full employment, critics argue that the Minijob framework has become a structural flaw in the labor system, deviating from its original intent as a temporary and supplementary form of work.
