Sailors to earn 5.8 percent more money in the future - German Sailors Secure 5.8% Wage Hike by 2027 Under New Law
The German Cabinet passed legislation to scrap the old system of predetermined average wages for seafarers. Starting in 2027, shipowners must base social security payments on actual earnings instead. This shift aims to make contributions fairer without reducing workers’ take-home pay.
Wages will rise in two stages under a 30-month collective bargaining agreement. The first increase of 3 percent will arrive in early 2026. A second rise of 2.8 percent follows at the beginning of 2027, bringing the total boost to 5.8 percent.
Yet the pay hike will not reach most of Germany’s merchant fleet. By late 2024, around 85 percent of ships sailed under foreign flags—often for lower operating costs. Only those on German-registered vessels will qualify for the higher wages.
The reforms mark a change for thousands of seafarers, though the exact number affected remains unclear. From 2027, their social security payments will reflect real earnings, while wages climb by nearly 6 percent over two years. The rules, however, leave out the majority of ships flying non-German flags.
