Germany, Covid bonus from 1,300 euros to public employees

In Germany, Covid bonus for public employees of the German Lander. The extraordinary contribution of 1,300 euros, tax-free, will be used to cover the needs that emerged after the outbreak of the pandemic and will be accompanied by a 2.8 percent wage increase. The deal – which came at dawn today after negotiations throughout the weekend – follows the threat of union initiatives by employees of university hospitals, kindergartens, schools, police departments and administrations. The president of the Verdi union Frank Werneke, defined the agreement as “respectable”: the initial request was for a salary increase of at least 150 euros per month, equal to about 5 percent increase, a request that for workers in the sector health had risen to 300 euros. The Landers called it ‘unrealistic’ as it would increase spending related to the pandemic.