Economy · Tax-Free Mini-Jobs · ArchiveGermany Wants to End Tax-Free Mini-Jobs for 6.9 Million WorkersAired August 9, 2026 at 12:06 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00The federal government in Germany wants0:01to eliminate [music] tax free mini jobs0:03as part of a pension reform. A change0:05that would directly affect about [music]0:066.9 million workers. That is the number0:09of people now working under the mini job0:11system nationwide, all facing the loss0:13of a flexible earnings top [music] up if0:15the proposal advances. Those jobs allow0:17earnings of up to 603 euros a month tax0:21free with no employee payments for0:23health care, unemployment insurance0:24[music]0:25or social security. The model is0:27widespread for employers.0:29Around half of all companies in Germany0:31offer mini jobs concentrated most0:33heavily in retail and hospitality.0:34[clears throat]0:35>> [music]0:35>> The workforce divides sharply, more than0:37half hold the mini job as extra income0:39[music] alongside a regular job that0:41already provides full social insurance0:43while just over 5% use it as a first0:45step into [music] the labor market. In0:47Berlin, the trade off is concrete. Della0:49Aaron Edraza works a hotel job while in0:52vocational [music] training and took a0:53mini job in a clothing store to cover0:55expenses. Sophia AR balances a part-time0:58job in [music] an organic store with0:59about 36 hours a month at Cafe Friesen.1:01Both said losing the mini job option1:03would force [music] them to extend hours1:05in their main part-time work, cut time1:07for studies and training, or [music]1:08look for entirely different work while1:10their employer said added contribution1:12costs would likely be [music] passed to1:13customers. Whether the government will1:15advance the elimination remains1:17unresolved and how [music] 6.9 million1:19workers and the retail and hospitality1:21employers who rely on about half the1:23country's firms offering mini jobs would1:25absorb the loss of flexible [music] tax1:27free earnings is still open. The1:28available account draws on worker and1:30employer interviews and mini job center1:31data without broader independent1:33confirmation.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗