Wages rise: Tarif agreement in NRW - Breakthrough in retail
In negotiations for the retail sector, the union and employers in North Rhine-Westphalia have reached an agreement. The first conclusion of the nationwide collective bargaining round could serve as a model for other regions.
Employees in North Rhine-Westphalia's retail sector will receive a pay increase following a collective bargaining agreement between employers and the Verdi union. The deal, reached in the fifth round of negotiations, will see employees receive a 3% increase from August 2026 and a further 2% from May 2027, with a minimum hourly wage of €14.20 and €14.90 respectively for lower-paid staff.
The 25-month agreement affects around 700,000 people and may serve as a precedent for other regions. The deal is seen as a compromise, with Verdi having initially demanded a 7% pay rise.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
