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Berlin (dpa) - The geriatric nurses in Germany can hope for nationwide uniform and in many cases higher pay.
In the new year the "moment of truth" strikes, said the chairman of the Verdi service union, Frank Werneke, of the German press agency in Berlin.
Then the prerequisites would be created for an already negotiated collective agreement for the care of the elderly to be declared generally binding by the federal government as announced.
The contract provides for "significant increases in the income of nursing staff".
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According to the collective agreement, the minimum wages are to be increased in three steps.
Graduated elderly care workers would receive at least 18.50 euros per hour from January 2023.
Nursing assistants with one to two years of training would cost at least 15 euros.
Verdi signed the deal in September with the Federal Association of Employers in the Care Industry, which brings together providers of voluntary welfare care.
So far, there are different minimum wages for nursing assistants in East and West Germany, which should rise to a uniform 12.55 euros per hour by September.
On July 1, 2021, a uniform minimum wage of 15 euros is to be introduced for nursing staff.
"The collective agreement is currently being consulted with the churches that play a decisive role in the care sector," said Werneke.
In fact, the labor law commissions of Diakonie and the Caritas Association are currently dealing with it.
Employers and employees are represented in them, which corresponds to employers and employees.
The Diakonie did not want to comment on request because of the ongoing proceedings.
Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) last affirmed in November that he wanted to extend a care collective agreement to all of Germany if an application was submitted and the requirements were met.
Heil: "An agreement is within reach."
The private nursing home owners and operators of nursing services vehemently oppose such a collective agreement.
You deny the relatively small association with which Verdi negotiated from being able to speak for the industry.
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Werneke said the private care lobby was up against a declaration of general liability.
"So the government has to show its colors," he said.
This also applies to Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
"And she has to act."
The situation of many employees in geriatric care has been tense for years due to overwork, lack of staff, increasing demands and a lack of appreciation.
Spahn had already admitted last year that the situation was inadequate - and that the corona pandemic would further aggravate it.
Since 2019, additional funds from statutory and private health insurance have been available for 13,000 new positions for medical treatment care in retirement homes.
Nursing associations had criticized this as far too few in view of a much larger number of missing nurses.
But only a fraction of the positions financed have been filled so far.
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In the meantime, there is a threat of a new billion-dollar hole in the financing of care.
Long-term care insurance is facing a deficit of 2.5 billion euros this year.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds is forecasting revenues of 50.3 billion euros and expenditure of 52.8 billion euros for this year, as the association announced to the dpa.
The "Handelsblatt" reported on it first.
After an increase in the care contribution two years ago, employees will probably only just barely escape a new contribution increase.
The deputy chairman of the Kassenverband, Gernot Kiefer, told the dpa: "If the economy recovers by the middle of the year, I am optimistic that we will just about get past a premium increase this year."
Kiefer asked the federal government to pump tax money into the nursing care funds.
He said that if the social security contributions should not exceed the 40 percent limit, as announced, a significant and permanent tax subsidy for long-term care insurance must flow in the coming year.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210106-99-913569 / 2
Concerted action care
Concerted action care 2
Diakonie labor law commissions
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Long-term care insurance 1
Long-term care insurance 2
Verdi to care collective agreement
Minimum care wage