Skip to content
Emergency

Training pay: entitlement to appropriate remuneration

Trainees are entitled to appropriate pay that increases as the training progresses. Since the introduction of the minimum training pay there are also statutory lower limits. Collective agreements can provide higher rates.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Create letter →

Your chances of getting your money back

Trainers must pay appropriate remuneration that increases by year of training (§ 17 BBiG). For companies not bound by a collective agreement, a statutory minimum training pay additionally applies.
If the pay is clearly below what is usual (guidance: considerably below applicable collective rates), it can be inappropriate and therefore subject to correction. Collective agreements take precedence.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Classify the pay

    Compare your pay with minimum rates and applicable collective rates in your industry.

  2. 2

    2. Check the increase

    Verify whether the pay rises with each year of training.

  3. 3

    3. Object

    If the pay is too low, contact the training company in writing.

  4. 4

    4. Get support

    The chamber, a union or advice centers help with classification and enforcement.

How to spot the scam

  • The pay is clearly below the statutory minimum rate.
  • There is no increase over the training years.
  • Overtime is demanded without compensation.

Frequently asked questions

How high must my training pay be?

It must be appropriate and increase with each year of training (§ 17 BBiG). For companies not bound by a collective agreement, a statutory minimum training pay applies, which is adjusted annually. Collective agreements can prescribe higher amounts.

When is the pay 'inappropriate'?

As rough guidance, pay is considered inappropriately low if it falls clearly below applicable collective rates, for example by more than 20 percent. Then an entitlement to back payment can exist. The exact assessment depends on the individual case.

Do I get pay for vocational-school time too?

Yes. The times of vocational-school instruction and of release belong to the training and must be paid. For attending vocational school and exams the company is obliged to release you (§ 15 BBiG).

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Create letterCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.