In a surprising turn of events, the German government has announced that the minimum wage is set to rise by a whopping 14% over the next 18 months. This news has left both employers and employees scratching their heads, wondering how this could possibly be a good idea.
One concerned employer, Hans Gruber, owner of a bratwurst stand in Berlin, had this to say about the wage increase: “I can barely afford to pay my employees as it is! If the minimum wage goes up, I’ll have to start charging 20 euros for a sausage just to break even.”
But not everyone is upset about the wage hike. Gretchen Schmidt, a waitress at a beer garden in Munich, is thrilled at the prospect of making more money. “I can finally afford to buy that designer dirndl I’ve had my eye on!” she exclaimed.
The German Minister of Labor, Helga Schmitt, defended the decision to raise the minimum wage, stating, “We believe that all workers deserve a living wage, even if it means some businesses may have to make adjustments. After all, who needs bratwurst when you can have caviar?”
The news of the wage increase has also sparked a heated debate on social media, with one user jokingly tweeting, “Looks like I’ll have to start selling my kidney to afford a beer at Oktoberfest next year!”
As the countdown to the wage hike begins, only time will tell how this bold move by the German government will play out. One thing is for sure, though – the bratwursts may be getting pricier, but the laughs are free.
