Following intensive negotiations, the IG Bau trade union and the Federal Guild Association of the Building Cleaning Trade (BIV) have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement entails significant wage increases for employees in the sector.

Key points of the collective agreement:

• Wage increase for entry-level workers: The minimum wage in wage group 1 will increase from 13.50 Euros to 14.25 Euros starting January 2025, and further to 15 Euros starting January 2026.
• Increase for skilled workers: In wage group 6, the minimum wage will increase from 16.70 Euros to 17.65 Euros (2025) and 18.40 Euros (2026).
• Apprentice remuneration: Apprentices will also benefit from the agreement. Their remuneration will increase to 1000, 1150, and 1300 Euros, respectively, depending on the year of apprenticeship.
• Duration: The new collective bargaining agreement is valid for two years, from 2025 to 2026.

Overall, this means a wage increase of 11.1 percent for entry-level workers and 10.2 percent for skilled workers over the entire duration.

Challenges and Compromises

Christian Kloevekorn, chairman of the BIV collective bargaining commission, described the negotiations as "tough" and at times "deadlocked." He emphasized that the union's initial demand for a wage increase of over 30 percent for one year had complicated the discussions.

Despite the challenges, a compromise was reached which, according to Kloevekorn, takes into account current economic and political uncertainties, as well as the interests of the industry and social partnership.

Outlook

Although a 13th-month salary was not agreed upon, both sides have already indicated discussions about a possible union bonus starting in 2027. These negotiations are scheduled to begin at the end of 2025.

The collective agreement demonstrates that, despite difficult negotiations and differing initial positions, a mutually acceptable compromise is possible. It offers employees in the building cleaning sector a noticeable wage increase and provides companies with planning security for the next two years.