A fiery debate is raging in Germany over the proposed increase of the minimum wage to 15 euros per hour, but a scathing critique from Junge Liberale member and Twitter influencer Ben Brechtken has turned heads, exposing what he calls a “socialist trap” that benefits politicians and public coffers at the expense of workers.
In a viral X post on March 8, Brechtken argues that the minimum wage isn’t the lifeline it’s touted to be—it’s a freedom-crushing intervention that masks the real culprit: Germany’s crushing tax and social contribution burden.
Germany’s Minimum Wage Nightmare
Brechtken’s numbers are stark. With the current minimum wage at 12.41 euros per hour, a full-time worker earns a gross salary of 1,985 euros monthly. But after taxes and social contributions, they take home just 1,453 euros—nearly 40% less than what employers actually pay.
If the wage rises to 15 euros as proposed, employers would shell out 2,890 euros monthly, but workers would see only 1,690 euros after deductions—a loss of over 1,200 euros, or 42%, to the state. “Over 50% of that wage hike would end up in the hands of Robert Habeck and Kevin Kühnert’s wasteful bureaucracy,” Brechtken charged, pointing fingers at the Green Party’s Vice Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister and the former SPD General Secretary.
The post, which has sparked heated replies on X, taps into a broader political firestorm. Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz’s call to boost the minimum wage to 15 euros has drawn praise from labor unions but fierce criticism from economists and libertarians. Critics warn the hike could fuel automation, slash jobs for low-skilled workers, and drive up prices, eroding any real wage gains.
Brechtken’s radical proposal? Slash the tax burden on minimum-wage earners to 30% and ditch the mandatory public broadcasting fee—potentially leaving workers with more take-home pay than a 15-euro minimum wage would deliver, without burdening employers.
The backlash is swift. Some X users accuse Brechtken of ignoring “asocial employers” who underpay workers, forcing taxpayers to subsidize low wages via social programs. Others defend the minimum wage as essential for ensuring full-time workers can afford basic living costs—a cornerstone of Germany’s social market economy. But Brechtken’s supporters argue the system is rigged, with public coffers gorging on worker earnings while productivity and real wages stagnate.
As Germany’s Minimum Wage Commission weighs its next move—amid pressure from the Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance and trade unions—this debate is far from over. Will workers truly benefit from a higher minimum wage, or are they being shortchanged by a tax system Brechtken calls “the state’s ugly, insatiable face”? Stay tuned as this battle for Germany’s economic soul heats up.
Die Folge von 15 EUR Mindestlohn in einem Bild. – Deutschland erlebt eine millionenfache Masseneinwanderung von Geringqualifizierten. Ohne Niedriglohnsektor sind die nicht in den Arbeitsmarkt zu integrieren. Verbleiben sie im Bürgergeld, ist der Sozialstaat nicht zu finanzieren. pic.twitter.com/MwSHnGecis
— Dr. Maximilian Krah MdEP (@KrahMax) March 8, 2025