No more cigarettes, rising minimum wages and new laws on short-time work. An overview of the new regulations for May 2020.
- From May, some rule changes will come into force in Germany again.
- These include adjustments due to the corona virus pandemic * as well as non-corona issues such as an increase in the minimum wage or lower package prices .
- We have summarized the new regulations for you.
Munich - In times of the corona virus *, some changes * are coming to people. In addition, new laws and regulations will be introduced in May. An overview.
Federal cabinet decides further social protection package in corona crisis
The Federal Government has decided to provide further assistance to people who are particularly hard hit by the Corona crisis . On Wednesday (April 29), the cabinet approved :
- Longer period of unemployment benefit: three months extension for those whose regular entitlement expired between May and December 2020.
- Relaxation in the additional earnings of short-time workers . This means that additional money can now be earned without affecting short-time work benefits.
- Increase in short-time work benefits *: From the fourth reference Monday it rises to 70 percent of the last net wage (77 percent for households with children), and from the eighth to 80 percent (87 with children).
Other improvements include receiving orphan's pensions and providing hot lunches for children from underprivileged families.
Gradual school openings - senior grades take precedence
From the beginning of May some pupils will be able to go to school again . Regular operation should start successively, so lessons do not begin immediately for all grades. When it comes to resuming teaching, for example, graduation classes would have priority. Most federal states are planning to open it partially to schools by May 4th.
Childcare centers are currently closed. Now the federal and state governments have presented a four-stage plan for the opening of daycare centers. Accordingly, one is currently working on a "careful" re-entry.
Hair salons are allowed to open again - haircut will probably be more expensive
Hair salons may reopen from May 4th - however, strict safety precautions * must be observed. For example, both the hairdresser and the customer must wear a face mask.
Since this involves additional time and additional expenses for protective clothing, the prices will probably rise a little .
The visit to the hairdressing salon will change in the future. Nothing works without a mask.
© dpa / LM Otero
In addition to hairdressing salons, relaxation in other areas is also possible in May, but has not yet been decided. Gastronomy businesses and hotels want to resume operations between mid and late May, and services could also take place again.
For the time being, however, there will be no easing for trips outside of Germany. The Federal Foreign Office has extended the worldwide travel warning to mid-June.
"Liberation Day" - Berlin gets an additional holiday
There is an additional public holiday in Berlin . On May 8th (Friday) the liberation from National Socialism and the end of the Second World War is commemorated. This is a one-off thing on the occasion of the 75th anniversary, which is limited to the state of Berlin.
In other European countries such as France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, however , the “Liberation Day” is a national holiday.
In addition, there are two national holidays in Germany in May:
- Labor Day on May 1st (Friday).
- Ascension Day on May 21 (Thursday).
Increasing the minimum wage in nursing - regional discrepancy should disappear
From May 1, mandatory minimum wages will be introduced in the elderly and outpatient nursing sector for the first time. For nursing assistants, the minimum wages will rise in four steps by April 1, 2022 to a uniform 12.55 euros per hour in the east and west of the Federal Republic . As of September 1, 2021, according to a decision by the Federal Cabinet, there will no longer be regionally different minimum care wages.
Increasing the minimum wage for painters, painters and stonemasons
There is also occasionally more money in crafts. As of May 1st, painters and varnishers who have not yet been trained will receive at least EUR 11.10 per hour instead of EUR 10.85 previously. A minimum wage of EUR 13.50 is awarded to the journeyman.
Also stonemasons and sculptors can look forward to an increase in the minimum wage. Instead of 11.85 euros previously, there is now 12.20 euros per hour.
According to a lawsuit by the Federal Network Agency - DHL has to cut prices again
The sending of packages will be cheaper again. After the DHL parcel service increased its prices in January, the Federal Network Agency intervened . The new prices were too expensive.
Now, for example, a medium-sized parcel (up to two kilograms) again costs 4.50 euros instead of 4.79 euros. The shipping of a 10-kilo package drops by a whole euro to 9.49 euros.
Menthol cigarettes banned due to new EU directive
From May 21st, menthol cigarettes may no longer be sold in Germany . Because according to a new EU tobacco product guideline flavors must not cover the taste of tobacco, menthol cigarettes have to be removed from the range.
These regulations apply from the end of April
- Mask requirement: After Schleswig-Holstein was the last federal state to introduce the mask requirement on April 29, the requirement for mouth and nose protection applies throughout Germany.
- New road traffic regulations: Since April 28, significantly stricter road traffic regulations have been in effect . For example, the driver's license is collected for one month from a speed limit of 21 kilometers per hour in the city.
* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network
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Rubric list picture: © dpa / David Ebener
