Mindestlohn: the applicable hourly minimum
Iranian employees doing covered work in Germany have the same statutory minimum-wage protection. The general rate is €13.90 gross per hour from January 2026, rising to €14.60 from January 2027. Check whether a legal exception applies to your role.
Step by step
- Compare pay and hoursCheck the rate for the work period, compare gross pay and working hours, and clarify any claimed statutory exception with the employer.
The general minimum applies to covered employment performed in Germany, including when the employer is based abroad. It is a gross hourly floor, not the net amount reaching your bank account. Compare the relevant period's pay with actual working hours rather than assuming a monthly salary always satisfies the rule.
The law contains exceptions, including certain compulsory or short internships, vocational training pay and some young people without completed vocational training. The actual arrangement matters more than its label. If pay appears too low, preserve your hours and payslips and ask the employer to explain the calculation and any claimed exception.
Sources
- Fünfte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung · Bundesministerium der Justiz
- MiLoG §20 · Bundesministerium der Justiz
- MiLoG §22 · Bundesministerium der Justiz
