Tariftabellen

Tariftabellen are wage tables embedded in collective wage agreements (Tarifverträge) and describe how much employees in defined job groups earn over time. They are a central instrument of collective bargaining in many German-speaking labor markets and are binding for the signatory parties and their members.

Structure and content: Tariff tables organize pay by Lohngruppen or Entgeltgruppen. Within each group there are Stufen (steps) that determine progression, typically linked to length of service, experience, or qualifications. The tables also specify supplementary pay, such as shift, night, Sunday premiums, as well as bonuses or allowances (for example Christmas or holiday pay). Apprentices and trainees often have separate apprenticeship pay scales.

Scope and effect: Tariftabellen apply to employees covered by the corresponding tariff agreement and can also be extended to additional workers in a sector within a tariff area. They set minimum (and often target) wage levels that exceed statutory minimum wages in many industries, while individual employers may pay higher wages based on qualification, performance, or company policy.

Legal status and negotiation: Tariff agreements, and thus the Tariftabellen, result from collective bargaining between employer associations and trade unions. They bind the parties to the terms for the duration of the agreement and may be revised in renewal rounds. In practice, they provide predictability for budgeting and wage planning and help harmonize pay across employers within a sector.

Geographic and sectoral scope: In Germany, Tariftabellen are widely used in sectors such as metal and electrical industries, chemical, retail, and public services; analogous systems exist in Austria and other German-speaking regions with locally defined groups and scales.