Painters in the Heinsberg district: Now more pay for striped walls!

Painters in the Heinsberg district: Now more pay for striped walls!

There is good news for painters and varnishers in the Heinsberg and Ludwigshafen districts: they can look forward to a noticeable wage increase! Around 280 painters and varnishers are employed in 63 companies in the Heinsberg district, while around 140 employees work in 21 painting companies in Ludwigshafen. In both regions, collective bargaining led to a new collective wage of 19.42 euros per hour, which applies retroactively from April 2025. This means that full-time employees earn around 90 euros more per month, which certainly ensures more satisfaction on their pay slips. Heinsberg magazine reports that this increase offers painters and varnishers a better financial basis, which they can definitely use.

The tough negotiations resulted in a compromise that takes into account both employer and employee interests. Carsten Burckhardt from the employee side described the negotiations as tough, but emphasized how important the agreement was, especially at a time when many industries are struggling with economic challenges. But that's not all: the next wage increase is already scheduled for next year, and trainees in the painting and varnishing trades can also look forward to more money. From August, the trainees will receive 50 euros more in their wallets, which shows how valuable the future skilled workers are considered in the industry. Rhine Palatinate adds that trainee remuneration will also be increased again next year.

The view of the industry

In Germany, a total of around 150,000 employees work in the painting and varnishing trade. A look at the collective bargaining developments shows that there was already a wage increase of 5% in the old federal states at the beginning of 2023. Further increases of 2.6% are planned for the coming year, which underlines the industry-wide development. In eastern Germany there is even an additional increase of 10 cents. The collective agreements, which were agreed at the end of 2022, show that the industry is striving to continuously improve working conditions. German craft newspaper provides information about the current minimum wages, which will increase to 15.55 euros for painters without a collective wage from July 2025.

In conclusion, it can be said that the developments in the painting and varnishing trade are encouraging. Both the wages and the general conditions for trainees are continually being improved. This not only shows appreciation for the work in this craft, but also that the industry does not stand still in a constantly changing economic situation. It remains exciting to see what the next wage increases will be in the coming year.