A settlement has been reached in the 2024 collective bargaining round for temporary agency workers. Wages will increase in two stages: by 3.7 percent as of October 1, 2024, and by an additional 3.8 percent as of March 1, 2025. This was agreed upon by the DGB Collective Bargaining Association for Temporary Workers—of which IG Metall is a member—and the temporary employment employers’ association GVP. The collective bargaining agreement has a term of 18 months and can be terminated for the first time on September 30, 2025. From then on, further wage increases will be possible.
“We have achieved the best possible outcome for employees, given the industry’s challenging economic situation,” emphasizes Eugen Scheinberger, a works council member at Adecco and an IG Metall representative on the negotiating committee that negotiates directly with employers. “The significantly widened gap between the lower pay grades and the minimum wage is particularly important.”
Temporary Work Wages Well Above the Minimum Wage
The gap between these wages and the general statutory minimum wage has been significantly widened. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the lowest hourly wages in pay grade 1 will rise from the current 13.50 euros to 14.53 euros starting in March 2025—and will then be 13.35 percent above the statutory minimum wage. This is the largest margin since the minimum wage was introduced.
Collective Bargaining Dynamics for Special Payments and Member Benefits
Temporary agency workers will receive several times more money in 2024. As of January 1, 2024, the final stage of the increases from the previous collective bargaining round took effect. In addition, temporary agency workers assigned to the metal and electrical industries, the wood and plastics industries, and the textile and apparel industries will receive an inflation adjustment bonus of up to 2,300 euros this year.
On top of that, there will be increases in annual bonuses and extra payments for IG Metall members. This is because, under the so-called “collective bargaining dynamics,” these payments increase at the same rate as wages. As a result, depending on the length of employment with the staffing agency:
- Previously: 2023 Christmas bonus and member benefit of up to 900.00 euros
- Vacation pay for 2024 and a member benefit of up to 931.50 euros
- 2024 Christmas bonus and member benefit of up to 965.97 euros
- Vacation bonus for 2025 and member benefit of up to 1,002.67 euros
“We’ve been able to achieve a great deal for temporary agency workers through the latest collective bargaining agreements. In 2024 and 2025, our members will receive a total of three wage increases, an inflation adjustment bonus of up to 2,300 euros, higher annual bonuses, and member benefits,” said Juan-Carlos Rio Antas, IG Metall’s chief negotiator for temporary work, summarizing the collective bargaining achievements. “This shows that being a member of IG Metall and standing together for better conditions is well worth it.”
More information on the member benefit—the extra payments for union members in temporary work
