Nurses should be better paid in Germany. For the first time, the Bundestag deliberated on a corresponding bill by Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD).
The first goal is to achieve better pay through a collective agreement between employers and employees, affirmed Heil. He would then declare a corresponding collective agreement generally binding.
However, if such a collective agreement is not concluded, a statutory minimum wage will also be introduced for qualified nurses. "It's about skilled workers, we urgently need," said Heil. But it is also about the humanity of society.
Criticism from the employers
The CDU labor market expert Peter Weiß said that in the care of the elderly the wage is on average eight percent below the level of nursing. This gap should be closed as far as possible.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) said that in view of the 80,000 missing specialists and 110,000 missing assistants today, skilled workers from abroad are also needed by 2030. That's why he advertised for them in Mexico. In addition, the training numbers would be increased, and he was also happy about every refugee who goes into the elderly care.
more on the subject
For the first time, the union Ver.di and the new Confederation of Employers in the Nursing Industry (BVAP), which include institutions of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, want to conclude a collective agreement for the care of the elderly.
The President of the Nursing Care Association, Thomas Greiner, sharply criticized the government's plans: "Competition should be stopped by tariff equalization and investment should be sacrificed for good and affordable care for all."