German imposes minimum wages for cleaners

Mar 30, 2007, 10:39 GMT

Berlin - Germany enacted Friday minimum hourly wages for cleaners after the country was rocked by news reports of starvation wages paid to hotel maids and office charwomen, many of them immigrants.

The legislation passed by the Bundesrat upper house ensures that 850,000 workers can claim the current hourly rate of 7.87 euros (10.50 dollars) in the west of the country and 6.36 euros in the east, even if they are working for a foreign company.

Future rates will be set in collective bargaining and will apply to all workers, even if they are not members of a trade union.

The bill, which earlier cleared the Bundestag lower house, comes amid debate in Germany about legislating a minimum wage applicable to all workers. Unions and leftists have begun petitions against low pay.

Labour Minister Franz Muentefering opposes a national minimum, arguing that only a few low-wage industries need government supervision. The minimum wage regime already applies in the construction industry and to painters and roofers.