Pay
"During probation you get less money."
The company wants to pay lower pay in the first months.
§ 17 BBiG / § 25 BBiG
The boss may NOT do that
No — the full pay applies from the first day.
Probation is part of the training, and the agreed appropriate pay applies from the first day (§ 17 BBiG). A lower "probation pay" below the minimum for your start year or below the applicable collective agreement is not allowed, and agreements to your disadvantage are void (§ 25 BBiG). Pay rises with the training year, not with the end of probation. If you received too little, you can claim the difference.
What the law says
§ 17 (1) BBiG – Pay
Trainers must grant trainees appropriate pay; it rises as the training progresses, at least annually.
§ 25 BBiG – Mandatory
An agreement deviating from these provisions to the trainee's disadvantage is void.
What you can do
- Compare your first payslip with the pay in your training contract.
- Check that it is at least the minimum for your start year.
- Claim any difference in writing — with month and amount.
- The IHK/HWK will help if the company does not give in.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Amount of my training pay during probation
Dear [name of trainer],
for the months [months] I was paid [€X], whereas my training contract provides for [€Y]. Lower pay during probation is not permitted under §§ 17, 25 BBiG.
Please pay the difference totalling [€Z] with the next payslip.
Kind regards
[Your name]
More cases: Pay
- More money? Be glad you're learning!
- Buy your own tools!
- €550 a month is fine for a trainee.
- In your second year you earn the same as in your first.
- We're not paying those few hours of overtime.
- You pay for school books and calculators yourself.
- Your pay is coming a bit later this month.
- If you quit, you pay back the training costs.
- You pay a fee for the training place.
- We'll deduct food and your room from your pay.
- Only permanent staff get a Christmas bonus.
- Nobody pays for your commute.
- As a trainee you don't get child benefit any more.