Saturday, January 06, 2007

Is there justice for bathroom janitors in Germany?

I found out today that Germany does not have a minimum wage. The recent expansion of the EU in 2004 has provoked German politicians to discuss the necessity of one. This is due to concern that people from former Eastern bloc countries work in Germany for much less than Germans do, increasing unemployment among native Germans. A minimum wage would resolve this. Why the EU has not mandated a minimum wage I cannot yet explain. Is it because business interests oppose it being naturally unwilling to not be able to hire cheaper workers?

What are the bathroom janitors paid? This is a good question. And who gets the tips? The janitors or the store or establishment? The vast majority of bathroom attendants that I have seen have been immigrants, especially Africans.

Are the janitors organized? Is their a union that represents them? The Justice for Janitors movement in the States has been very effective in forcing companies to increase wages and benefits. Germany likely also needs its own Justice for Janitors movement.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home