Preserving Mini-Jobs: Strengthening Wholesale and Hospitality
14 August 2026The wholesale and hospitality sectors rely on flexible employment models to consistently manage fluctuations in demand and seasonal peaks. METRO therefore calls for preserving mini-jobs and the swiftly introduction of the maximum weekly working time agreed in the coalition agreement.
At a time of weak economic growth, rising costs, and increasing bureaucracy, mini-jobs are coming under political attack.
On 2 July 2026, the coalition committee of CDU/CSU and SPD announced its intention to follow all the recommendations of the Pension Commission. In its final report, the commission proposes abolishing mini-jobs in their current form. This would increase bureaucracy, reduce flexibility, and undermine a proven employment model for the wholesale and hospitality sectors.
In parallel, the Federal Government has already adopted or initiated several measures that would significantly increase the cost of mini-jobs for employers. If these plans are implemented, the employer's contribution burden would rise from the current rate of approximately 31% to over 42%. For a mini-job with a monthly salary of €603, this would result in additional costs of around €800 per year per mini-jobber. Small businesses would be particularly affected.
Whether through removal or increased costs, both are two sides of the same coin of burden. A significant increase in the cost of mini-jobs would make them economically unviable for employers, effectively leading to their abolition through the back door. The far-reaching consequences of this are evident when considering the importance of mini-jobs for businesses and employees.
Why Mini-Jobs are indispensable
With around seven million employees, mini-jobs are a central component of the German labour market. In retail alone, approximately 800,000 mini-jobbers are employed, while the hospitality sector accounts for about 1.1 million individuals. The high demand for mini-jobs is no coincidence:
- Mini-jobs provide essential flexibility for businesses. They help companies manage fluctuations in demand, peak periods, and seasonal surges.
- Mini-jobs reduce bureaucracy. Through simplified payroll processing via the mini-job centre, they save businesses from additional administrative burdens.
- Mini-jobs are popular among employees. They enable many people to balance work with family, studies, caregiving, or retirement.
- Mini-jobs secure the workforce. They keep people in the labour market for whom an increase in working hours is not a realistic option. Without mini-jobs, there is a risk that many employees will completely withdraw from working life.
More Flexibility Instead of New Hurdles
Above all, wholesale and hospitality now urgently require relief and flexibility. Instead of weakening proven models, policymakers should create more flexible conditions to meet this requirement. Importantly, that includes the introduction of a maximum weekly working time as agreed to in the coalition agreement.
As a wholesaler, we at METRO experience daily how important flexible employment models are for our own workforce planning and for our core HoReCa customer group (hotels, restaurants, and caterers). METRO therefore calls for mini-jobs to be maintained in their current form, to prevent further burdens on employers, and to swiftly implement the maximum weekly working time agreed to in the coalition agreement.
Those who want to secure jobs and enable growth should strengthen proven flexibility rather than dismantle it.