Brussels, 30/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Germany has given in to pressure from various quarters and decided temporarily to suspend the recently reinstituted minimum wage for truck drivers. For Berlin, it is a matter of maintaining good neighbourhood relations, pending the verdict of the European Commission.
The German Federal Minister for Social Affairs, Andrea Nahles, announced the suspension of the measure following a meeting with her Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, on Friday 30 January. Poland's voice was the loudest in the challenges to this minimum wage of €8.50 per hour applied to truck drivers crossing Germany (see EUROPE 11237 and 11236). The suspension decreed by Germany applies only to drivers in transit. Those carrying out loading or unloading operations on German soil, and for cabotage, will continue to benefit from this minimum wage.
Poland expressly asked Germany to suspend the measure, pending clarifications on the European legal framework. Additionally, the country shared its concerns with the European Commission, along with some ten other member states. The European Commissioners with responsibility for Social Affairs and Transport, Marianne Thyssen and Violeta Bulc respectively, discussed the issue with the German authorities in Berlin when they visited earlier this week (see EUROPE 11239 and 11240).
All of these combined efforts have paid off, as Germany has decided to preserve its “good neighbourhood” relations, Minister Nahles stressed, freezing the application of the minimum wage for truck drivers in transit. The European Commission appreciates this decision. It is a positive step forward pending the legal clarifications to be shed on European provisions, the European Executive states.
A preliminary analysis of the compatibility between the new German rules and European law has been launched (EU pilot). The verdict is expected before the summer, between April and June, the German minister stated. (MD)