More than 33,000 state employees in Brandenburg will receive salary increases of up to 18 percent — but must work a 41-hour week from March 2027 as a condition of the deal.
The package, approved today by the state cabinet and still requiring parliamentary approval, follows a 2024 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court that found Berlin’s civil service pay between 2008 and 2020 was unconstitutionally low in many categories. Brandenburg’s government is acting proactively to head off similar lawsuits.
The full cost to the state budget is steep. By 2028, the pay adjustments will add roughly €1.5 billion in extra spending. This year alone, the price tag reaches about €415 million. When back payments for prior periods are included, the total could hit €2 billion.
To fund the raises, the state will tap pension reserves. At the same time, ministries are being told to cut spending in areas such as culture, daycare centers and transport to close the budget gap.
What the raises look like in practice
- A police officer’s starting salary rises to €3,557 gross — about €400 more than before.
- Teachers in pay grade A13 earn between €5,955 and €7,331, depending on experience. That’s up to €1,087 extra.
- Judges receive monthly increases ranging from €940 to €1,560.
- The minister-president’s salary climbs from €17,680 to €19,870.
The increases vary by pay grade from 8 to 20 percent, with the highest jumps going to certain senior positions.
Longer hours, with exceptions
The trade-off starts in March 2027: roughly 33,000 civil servants will work 41 hours per week. The arrangement is set to run through 2032.
Teachers are exempt, as they already face a higher teaching load. Other groups may also qualify for exceptions, though details are still being negotiated.
The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) signed off on the package. The Civil Service Association (dbb) rejected it, objecting to linking higher pay with longer hours.
Political friction ahead
The law now goes to the state parliament, where debate is expected over the social balance of the deal. The salary increases far outpace settlements in other public-sector agreements. Signals from the government suggest some ministers may voluntarily forgo their own raises to reduce political backlash.
The constitutional court’s finding that Berlin’s pay scales were too low for more than a decade prompted Brandenburg to act. By locking in the 41-hour week until 2032, the state aims to contain long-term personnel costs while avoiding legal challenges from its own workforce.
