Member Benefit: Temporary Work The Member Bonus on Top of Your Christmas Bonus

The amount of the member benefit depends on the length of service with the employer (temporary staffing agency)—as of the cut-off dates of June 30 and November 30, respectively (see below).

The member benefit is paid out twice a year. For calculating eligibility and the amount, the cutoff date of June 30 applies to the extra payment for vacation pay, and the cutoff date of November 30 applies to the Christmas bonus. Important: Eligibility requires union membership and a period of employment of more than 6 months with the staffing agency.

The amounts increase “in line with collective bargaining agreements,” meaning that the member benefit automatically increases in tandem with the monthly wage increases negotiated by DGB unions. In other words, if there is a collective bargaining wage increase of X percent, the extra payment will also increase by X percent. ​​​​​​

Infographic:Table showing special payments and the member benefit for temporary agency workers, 2025–2027​​​​

The current collective bargaining agreement runs through September 30, 2027.

The member bonus is paid twice a year—as part of the vacation pay in June and the Christmas bonus in November. Eligibility for the bonus depends on specific cut-off dates. The relevant cut-off date for the increased vacation pay is June 30, and for the increased Christmas bonus, it is November 30.

• Temporary agency workers who have been members of IG Metall (and/or another DGB union) for at least 6 months as of the cutoff date of June 30 are eligible for the vacation bonus.
• At least 6 months of employment with the staffing agency as of the cutoff date of June 30 or November 30.
• The temporary staffing agency must be bound by the collective bargaining agreements between the DGB unions and the temporary staffing employers’ association GVP (formerly iGZ/BAP). This applies to almost all temporary staffing agencies.

Not a member yet? Then you can join here and secure your bonus payment as a member benefit.

You must submit an application to your staffing agency or dispatcher in a timely manner—by mail or email. You must also include a certificate of membership, i.e., proof that you have been an IG Metall member for at least 6 months. You can find a sample application and your individual certificate on our Service Center portal.

The membership certificate must not be older than May 19 or October 19, respectively , at the time of application. This means: For the bonus payment in addition to your vacation pay, you can submit your application from May 19 through June 30 . The application period for the extra Christmas bonus payment runs from October 19 through November 30. The date the application is received by mail or email determines whether it is submitted on time.

Our tip: Be sure to mark these dates in your calendar right away so you don’t forget to submit your application.

The IG Metall Service Center portal offers members services and exclusive deals—easy to access at any time. All you need to use it is to register once by entering your membership number.

• Registration and Updates to Contact and Bank Information
• Signing up for and managing newsletter subscriptions on your own (stay up to date)
• Download membership fee confirmation (you can get a refund from the tax office)
• Download membership confirmation (important for benefit programs)
• Apply for strike pay
• Order an ISIC Card (the International Student Identity Card, which allows high school students, apprentices, and college students to enjoy benefits worldwide—free for IG Metall members)
• and much more …

Both are individually calculated contributions that must be determined and remitted by the employer. The member benefit, as we intended it to be, is a component of wages and must be paid, taxed, and subject to social security contributions by the employer. This is also beneficial for temporary agency workers, as it affects their retirement benefits. Therefore, the distribution of these funds by IG Metall or an association is not permitted.

Since the member benefit is an individual entitlement (that you, as a member, have vis-à-vis your employer), IG Metall cannot simply submit the application on your behalf. Furthermore, having IG Metall submit the application would involve data protection and organizational preparations, the effort of which would be greater for you than submitting the application yourself.

You can refer all colleagues who are already members of IG Metall to this page here.

Important: Anyone who becomes a member by December 2026 (inclusive) will receive more money in just six months: the member benefit for the 2027 vacation pay.

We’ve compiled all the relevant information about this member benefit on this page. If you have any further questions, please contact your local IG Metall office.