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Be it in the supermarket at the checkout, as a page or even as a programmer - there are a multitude of mini-jobs to be found on job boards.
The employment relationship is particularly popular with schoolchildren, students and retirees.
In September 2019 there were almost 6.7 million mini-jobbers in Germany, according to figures from the mini-job headquarters.
Of these, over a million were over 65 and over 1.1 million were under 25.
The big advantage: With this form of secondary employment, the salary is tax-free - provided the employee and employer comply with all the rules.
For marginal part-time employees, almost the same labor law regulations apply as for other employees.
Mini-jobbers, for example, are entitled to the minimum wage.
In 2020 this is 9.35 euros per hour.
There is one important restriction: As a rule, employees may not earn more than 450 euros per month with a mini-job.
It follows that mini-jobbers who receive the minimum wage can work for a maximum of 48 hours per month in this employment relationship.
If mini-jobbers earn more per hour, they are accordingly allowed to work fewer hours.
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But when it comes to earnings, there are two exceptions: The 450 euro limit may be exceeded as long as a mini jobber does not earn more than 5400 euros a year.
However, if a colleague becomes unexpectedly ill and the mini-jobber has to work more, this limit no longer applies: In such exceptional cases, the mini-jobber may earn more than 450 euros per month and the annual income is well over 5400 euros.
This is allowed as long as it happens unexpectedly and no more than three times in a twelve-month period.
The vacation entitlement is usually pro rata.
It is also calculated for marginal part-time employees based on the number of days worked per week.
For example, those who work five days a week all year round are entitled to 20 days of vacation according to the Vacation Act.
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Mini-jobbers can therefore calculate their vacation entitlement down to their working days.
To do this, you have to divide the 20 vacation days by five and then multiply the result by the number of days you worked in the week.
So anyone who works two days a week is entitled to eight days of vacation a year.
450 euro job: am I entitled to sick pay?
There is a significant difference to other employees in the event of illness.
Anyone who becomes ill and thus unable to work in a normal employment relationship will continue to receive money from their employer for the first six weeks, this also applies to mini-jobbers.
For the next 78 weeks, employees who are subject to social security contributions will receive sick pay from the health insurance company.
"Mini-jobbers are not entitled to this sick pay," says Gabriele Xaver, specialist lawyer for labor law and member of the German Lawyers' Association.
However, if you have a mini job, you don't have to pay any social security contributions such as health or unemployment insurance.
Incidentally, this also applies to all those who have several mini-jobs - unless they are employed elsewhere and subject to social security contributions.
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"Anyone who is employed subject to social security contributions must pay social security contributions again after their second mini-job," says Peter Konieczny, responsible for minor jobs in private households and in the commercial sector at the mini-job center, the central reporting point for this type of employment.
Earning unlimited money with several mini jobs without taxes is not possible.
With several mini jobs you may not earn more than 450 euros a month.
That is why everyone who starts a mini job must also tell the new employer whether he or she is still working elsewhere.
As soon as one of the employers has properly registered as a mini-jobber, you will receive a welcome letter from the mini-job center.
"Otherwise, mini-jobbers actually have no contact with us," says Konieczny.
Although the mini job center advises employees on all questions relating to their mini job, it is primarily in contact with the employers because they have to make their contributions to them.
Short-term mini-jobs are subject to wage tax
If you start a mini job, you can consider paying part of your salary into the pension fund.
"Anyone who can be exempted from this will receive the full salary - gross and net," says Konieczny.
Otherwise, mini jobbers have to give up 3.6 percent of their salary.
Whether this makes sense depends on the individual case.
"If I were to be subject to pension insurance for 40 years in a mini job, I would increase my later monthly pension by around 180 euros," Konieczny calculates.
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The expert sees the greatest advantage of a mini job anyway for those who are about to retire.
Because if you become unemployed shortly beforehand, you will have great difficulties getting a new permanent position.
"The mini-job can therefore help to get the necessary 45 payment years for the pension entitlement," says Konieczny.
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In addition to the classic 450 euro mini job, there are also so-called short-term mini jobs.
There is no salary limit for this type of employment.
“In theory, it would also be possible to earn 5,000 euros or more per month,” says Konieczny.
However, this employment may not last longer than either 70 working days per year or up to three months.
In addition, these jobs are added up: Two short-term jobs, each with 70 days of work, are also not possible.
“Such work can be worthwhile, for example, if you as a programmer have a very specific project for a company,” says Konieczny.
Although employees do not have to pay social security contributions even for short-term employment - they are, however, subject to wage tax.
The employer deducts this from the wages and transfers it to the tax office.
In addition, such employment must not be considered “professional”.
This would be the case, for example, if the employee is actually on parental leave or if he is a seasonal worker repeatedly doing the same job.
The main source of income must also not be a short-term mini job.
Editor's note: In an earlier version of the text, several passages were incorrect. We have corrected these and apologize for the mistakes.
This article was first published on January 28, 2020.
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