Minijob Rule Adjustments for 2025 Affect RadioMonster.FM

RadioMonster.FM has informed its listeners and employees about the adjustments to minijob regulations that came into effect at the beginning of 2025. The reform impacts employment and the earning potential for low-wage earners, which is also relevant to the media company's operations.

A key change is the increase in the monthly earnings limit for marginal employment (minijob) to 556 euros. Alongside this, the statutory minimum wage per hour has risen to 12.82 euros. This means that an employee can work a maximum of approximately 43 hours per month if paid the minimum wage. Employers must consider all additional payments, such as holiday or Christmas bonuses, as they count towards the earnings limit.

The new regulations clearly differentiate between a minijob and a so-called midijob. A midijob applies when the monthly gross income exceeds 556 euros and can extend up to 2,000 euros per month. Minijobs remain largely subject to flat-rate contributions, whereas midijobs involve a sliding contribution base for employees and full employer contributions for social security. Midijobs also provide access to all social insurances, including health and unemployment insurance, while minijobs typically only cover pension insurance, unless an exemption has been requested.

Minijobs have been a significant component of the German labor market since 2003, widely used in sectors like retail, hospitality, and cleaning services. They offer flexibility for employees supplementing their main income or student earnings, as well as for employers using them to manage demand peaks. In recent years, however, the focus has increasingly shifted towards legal certainty and transparency, increasing employers' responsibility for clear contracts and meticulous documentation of working hours.