On average, the wage gap is 17 percent, but there is broad variation and gaps of 33 percent are not uncommon, daily Bild reported, citing a survey by
by think-tank the Hans Böckler Foundation.
The figures are based on a worker with 10 years’ experience, working a 38-hour week in a non-managerial position and excluding bonuses.
The foundation’s wage policy expert Reinhard Bispinck told the paper: “The main reason for the lower wages in the east is the smaller collective bargaining coverage at eastern German firms. Also there are fewer large firms in the east. The smaller the firms, the smaller the standard of pay.”
Former eastern state Thuringa’s premier Christine Lieberknecht called for equal pay between east and west. “With this unequal pay, they won’t find skilled workers,” she said of the eastern states.
The Local/djw
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