BERLIN, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Germany's DGB trade union umbrella federation said on Saturday it plans to raise its demand for a national minimum wage in Europe's largest economy, which has yet to introduce such a measure.
In May, the DGB's board would increase the target to 8.50 euros an hour from 7.50 euros when it convenes for a federal congress in May, a spokeswoman for the federation said.
Frank Bsirske, head of Germany's service sector union Verdi, told German weekly magazine Der Spiegel he expected the congress to approve the recommendation.
The DGB spokeswoman said the minimum wage was needed in Germany to prevent wage dumping -- exploiting wage differences among competitors to keep down pay -- once restrictions on the movement of labour within the European Union end in May 2011.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have resisted introducing a national minimum wage, arguing it would drive some employers out of business and destroy jobs.
Instead, the government has approved the introduction of minimum wages for certain sectors of the economy.
(Reporting by Dave Graham and Holger Hansen) Keywords: GERMANY MINIMUMWAGE/ (dave.graham@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: dave.graham.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
In May, the DGB's board would increase the target to 8.50 euros an hour from 7.50 euros when it convenes for a federal congress in May, a spokeswoman for the federation said.
Frank Bsirske, head of Germany's service sector union Verdi, told German weekly magazine Der Spiegel he expected the congress to approve the recommendation.
The DGB spokeswoman said the minimum wage was needed in Germany to prevent wage dumping -- exploiting wage differences among competitors to keep down pay -- once restrictions on the movement of labour within the European Union end in May 2011.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have resisted introducing a national minimum wage, arguing it would drive some employers out of business and destroy jobs.
Instead, the government has approved the introduction of minimum wages for certain sectors of the economy.
(Reporting by Dave Graham and Holger Hansen) Keywords: GERMANY MINIMUMWAGE/ (dave.graham@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: dave.graham.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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