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Many people earn so little that they can hardly make provisions for old age (symbol picture)
Photo: Janine Schmitz / picture alliance / photothek
Inflation is rising in Germany, but wages are hardly rising: more than 2.5 million people in this country have less than 2000 euros gross per month at their disposal.
This affects around every eighth full-time employee, in eastern Germany almost every fifth.
That shows the answer of the federal government to a request of the left in the Bundestag.
At the end of 2020, a total of 2.545 million full-time employees subject to social security contributions in Germany were only paid less than 2,000 euros per month.
In West Germany there were 1.838 million, or ten percent.
In East Germany, 707,000 - 18 percent of full-time employees - did not get above this salary threshold.
In its answer, the government refers to the Federal Statistical Office.
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The labor market policy spokeswoman for the left-wing parliamentary group, Sabine Zimmermann, said, referring to inflation and rising rents, you won't get very far with less than 2,000 euros.
Too many employees would be fobbed off with low wages.
In August, the inflation rate in Germany was 3.9 percent, the highest level in 28 years.
The wages have been low for years in cleaning professions, in the catering, hotel and tourism sectors.
These are also areas that were particularly badly affected by the corona pandemic.
"It is a scandal that the East in particular is still so clearly left behind," said Zimmermann.
The federal government must work for the further equalization of wages.
In particular, the framework conditions would have to be changed so that more people could have good jobs at decent wages.
Zimmermann called for an increase in the minimum wage to 13 euros, in line with the Left's election manifesto.
The SPD and the Greens want the lower wage limit to rise to twelve euros quickly after the federal election.
In addition, Zimmermann called, among other things, to abolish temporary work.
This is "systematic low-wage employment".
flg / dpa-AFX