Berlin wants to negotiate the minimum wage

The new  legal provision of setting a minimal wage in Germany caused a controversy among the transport companies in Europe. After having received complaints from some countries, also Poland, Germany wants to negotiate. "Germany maintains their legal position, however declare that they are ready to negotiate with the Commission in order to reach a compromise. That is what counts. Germany does not seem to be determined to try in this case." an official says. According to a law that came into force on January 1, 2015 in Germany, all employees working on German territory regardless of where their employer is based have to be paid a minimum wage of €8.5 an hour. The law would decrease the competitiveness of Polish freight and transport companies, once applied to Polish drivers. The law was temporarily suspended at the beginning of February, after negotiations between the Polish Minister of Labor and his German counterpart.