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Show Applicable labour law

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<div class="ck-content" data-wrapper="true" dir="ltr" style="--ck-image-style-spacing: 1.5em; --ck-inline-image-style-spacing: calc(var(--ck-image-style-spacing) / 2); font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: 11pt;"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">German labour law is governed by several key legal frameworks, including the <strong>German </strong><a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Civil Code</strong></a><strong> </strong>(BGB) and the <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aentg_2009/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Act on the Posting of Workers</strong></a> (AEntG).<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><br>The <strong>AEntG</strong>:</p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li data-list-item-id="e2e9e2f1b29d9178320e8f5794c1f4c16"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Regulates the applicability of national employment conditions</strong> to workers posted to Germany, including minimum annual leave, working hours and rest periods, personnel leasing, OSH, protection for pregnant women and mothers, equal treatment of men and women, and coverage of all posting-related costs by the employer.&nbsp;</p></li><li data-list-item-id="ed4fb3f92b14ca38e34494acaaa7d167f"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Regulates – in addition to Section 16 MiloG and Section 17b AÜG – notification requirements</strong> obliging employers established abroad to notify the posting of workers to Germany (Section 18).&nbsp;</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e256d824b0b52064f760db74f0ce6472d"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Regulates the binding nature of generally applicable collective agreements</strong> in specific sectors (Section 3 ff.).&nbsp;</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e932b6626d720369006d103b006b4b74e"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Establishes – in addition to Section 21 MiloG and Section 16 AÜG – a fine</strong> of up to EUR 500,000 for employers violating working condition regulations (Section 23).</p></li><li data-list-item-id="ecfff84db91579f6f01c18aa5a18d8ccb"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Makes – in addition to Section 13 MiLoG – contracting companies</strong> liable for ensuring that subcontractors comply with minimum wage obligations and contributions to a joint facility of the parties to a collective agreement (Section 14).</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e910ef60b5f0d49d9a7034f317c0dde48"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Takes reference to the</strong> employment contract as defined under Section 611a of the BGB as a contract under private law, to carry out work in the service of another person, in personal dependence and subject to the instructions of that other person.&nbsp;</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e37210f6924bc42edd102c91301b2a07f"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Does not directly define posted workers</strong>. However, Section 2 states that workers must be employed in Germany.</p></li><li data-list-item-id="ed1c53040582d5b0752d625ebcb1e870c"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><strong>Applies to all posted workers</strong> and ensures that key working conditions under German labour law apply.</p></li></ul><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;"><br>The AEntG refers to several other laws, including:</p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li data-list-item-id="e283641e223139d967f344b6297b85684"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/milog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Minimum Wage Act</strong></a> (MiLoG), which requires foreign employers to pay posted workers remuneration no less than the minimum wage.</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e218b498bbfdeb8a564bbe59b7a5badae"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arbzg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Working Time Act</strong></a> (ArbZG), which limits daily working hours and mandates daily and weekly rest periods.</p></li><li data-list-item-id="efbcc8c0c95d2c51f62c9c9debf48e58f"><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/burlg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Paid Leave Act</strong></a> (BUrlG), which guarantees minimum paid annual leave.</p></li></ul><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0; text-align: justify;">When posting a worker to Germany a notification may be required under AEntG, MiLoG or AÜG. Section 18 of the AEntG establishes a mandatory notification requirement for foreign employers posting workers to Germany to all industries covered by generally applicable collective agreements with binding effect under Section 3 of the AEntG. This obligation also extends to companies employing temporary workers from foreign agencies in a sector where a so-called wage floor based on a public ordinance is applicable (Section 17b of the AÜG) and to all sectors named in Section 2a of the <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/schwarzarbg_2004/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Act to Combat Undeclared Work and Unlawful Employment</a> (Schwarzarbeitsbekämpfungsgesetz, SchwarzArbG) (Section 16 of the MiLoG). As part of this requirement, foreign employers must submit worker notifications via the Minimum Wage Notification Portal. Where the reporting obligation exists on the basis of several legislative instruments, it is sufficient to submit only one uniform notification. Notifications must include essential details such as employee name, employment duration, workplace location, responsible representatives in Germany, and the designated service agent for legal correspondence.</p><hr><p style="margin: 0;"><span style="font-size:9pt;"><sup>1 </sup>Gesetz über zwingende Arbeitsbedingungen für grenzüberschreitend entsandte und für regelmäßig im Inland beschäftigte Arbeitnehmer und Arbeitnehmerinnen (Arbeitnehmer-Entsendegesetz (AEntG)). &nbsp;</span></p></div>

Employments contracts

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Table 2 - Overview of relevant national administrations

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Country-Fiche: Germany

Competent authorities

Request for information from national authorities

Table 1 - Overview of relevant national administrations

Applicable labour law

Employments contracts

Table 2 - Overview of relevant national administrations

Temporary Work Agencies

Social security

Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) system (includes public repository of social security institutions)

Institutions responsible for the issuance of PD A1

Online tool to check PD A1

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – List of institutions that issue the EHIC

Entry and stay requirements for TCNs

Visa

Table 3 - Visa types

Residence and work permits

Table 4 - Residence Permits

Table 5 - Work Permits

Special entry and stay requirements

Travel and residence documents

Useful Links

Table 6 - Useful links