Amazon raises minimum pay for logistics positions
Amazon Boosts Logistics Wages in Germany
Amazon has announced that it will be increasing the starting wages for its logistics employees in Germany, with the minimum wage set to rise to at least €15.65 gross per hour starting in September 2025[1][2]. After two years of service, logistics workers can expect to earn an average of more than €40,000 gross annually[1].
This wage increase represents over a 4% raise and will apply to Amazon's 90+ logistics locations across Germany[1]. Currently, 22 locations offer starting salaries at or above €16, but this number is projected to rise to 52 following the increase[1].
The impact of these increases includes improved pay competitiveness for Amazon logistics staff in Germany, potentially aiding in employee retention and recruitment amidst general labor market pressures. However, while wage costs rise, Amazon still maintains operational control over pay scales without union negotiations, reflecting its broader global labor strategy[1].
Meanwhile, in Bavaria, several companies have been affected by the US-EU customs deal, with Witron, Grammer, Hamm, and BHS Tabletop among those impacted[3]. The customs deal has created uncertainty for Bavarian companies.
In a separate incident, a burglary case occurred in a Schönsee supermarket, with one of the burglars already convicted in Amberg and another on trial[4]. Elsewhere, a serious traffic accident occurred on the country road between Pfreimd and Nabburg, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old motorcyclist and hospitalization of a Dutch family[5].
In other news, Adidas, a popular employer in Germany, is leaving collective bargaining due to finding the union's requirements too rigid[6]. Amazon, too, rejects collective bargaining agreements and has been criticized by the union Verdi for this reason[1].
On a positive note, Gregor Ziegler GmbH and the Liebensteiner Kartonagenwerk GmbH in Ploessberg were awarded by the Bavarian Economics Minister for being among the 50 fastest-growing SMEs in Bavaria[7].
In the manufacturing sector, Baumann Automation in Amberg is reducing 70 jobs due to the economic crisis, with short-time work and job cuts implemented[8]. Apprentices at Baumann Automation are also affected by the job cuts.
[1] - The Verge [2] - Reuters [3] - Bavarian Radio [4] - Bavarian Radio [5] - Bavarian Radio [6] - Deutsche Welle [7] - Bavarian Economics Ministry [8] - Bavarian Radio
Other technology companies, like Adidas and Amazon, are rejecting collective bargaining agreements, a move that has been criticized by unions for its potential impact on employee benefits and labor rights. In the finance and business sector, the increasing wages for Amazon's logistics employees in Germany, although appreciated for its potential benefits, still does not include union negotiations in its Labor strategy.
