Germany will get a minimum-wage in 2017: €8.50 = $11.56

[DetlefK]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-reaches-agreement-to-form-new-german-government-a-935934.html

The coalition-government-negotiations between CDU and SPD yielded the introduction of a minimum-wage in Germany. It never had one; strong unions kept the wages appropriate.

The caveats:
- There will be a transition-period first, which will end on January 1st 2017.
- If the union agrees, a company is allowed to go below minimum-wage.

[diabeticman]

1. Looks to be a living wage.

while we are stuck at $7.25

[pampango]

2. republicans will expect Germany's economy to fall apart now - massive unemployment.

"Germans don't seem to understand that they won't be able to compete with workers in poor countries" will say the right wing politicians and economists. Thankfully, Germany seems to know how to run an economy with strong unions and high pay.

[DetlefK]

3. "We don't have to compete with workers in other countries ..."

"We can always sell them high-quality cars and guns!"