Artists Based in Duisburg and the Lower Rhine Zone Boost Creative Scene
In Duisburg and the Lower Rhine region, a significant change is on the horizon for the painting and decorating sector. With approximately 2090 employees working in 267 businesses, the industry is preparing for a series of wage adjustments that will impact both skilled workers and apprentices.
From July 1, 2025, the minimum wage for skilled painters and decorators will see a notable increase, rising from €15.00 to €15.55 per hour. This is a confirmed tariff minimum wage rise in the sector, as reported by the employment agency.
However, the current tariff negotiations for painters and decorators have not been successful. Employers proposed a wage raise of 2.9% effective April 1, 2025, followed by an additional 3% from July 1, 2026, over a total contract period until September 30, 2027. The union IG Bau rejected this offer, declaring the negotiations unsuccessful and calling for arbitration.
As a result, the sector is currently relying on minimum wages and pending arbitration outcomes. The next pay increases for both painters and apprentices are expected, with the former due next year and the latter next summer.
The painters' union, IG BAU Duisburg-Niederrhein, has advocated for these increases and has provided information about the additional 50 euros for apprentices, effective from August. The union has also announced a pay increase for painters, with a new hourly rate of 19.42 euros.
It's important to note that the pay increase for apprentices is not retroactive, unlike the pay increase for painters. For painters, a full-time job could result in an additional 90 euros in their monthly salary due to the pay increase. Painters and decorators who do not receive a tariff wage are entitled to the industry's minimum wage, which will be 15.55 euros from July.
Current job postings in the region reflect market conditions close to or slightly above the minimum tariff wage, with hourly wages ranging from €16 to €17.14. The pay increases are relevant to those who use paintbrushes, paint buckets, and wallpaper brushes, among other tools.
The wage increases have resulted from "extremely tough wage negotiations," as reported by Karina Pfau of IG BAU Duisburg-Niederrhein. The union continues to advocate for further increases, with expectations for another pay rise for painters and apprentices next summer. The exact dates for these increases are yet to be confirmed.
In the evolving business landscape of Duisburg and the Lower Rhine region, the painting and decorating sector, a key part of the industry, is witnessing changes in the finance sphere. The union IG BAU Duisburg-Niederrhein, while advocating for wage adjustments, has announced a rise in the minimum wage for skilled painters and decorators from €15.00 to €15.55 per hour, effective July 1, 2025. This move reflects the ongoing negotiations and the union's commitment to improving business conditions for its members.
