Politics · Germany · 2 hrs ago
Brandenburg approves higher pay for about 30,000 civil servants
Brandenburg’s state parliament approved higher pay for about 30,000 civil servants on Wednesday.
The increase covers public employees including teachers, police officers and judges.
The decision puts into effect a German Constitutional Court ruling that pay was too low for civil servants.
The new pay rates rise by seven to 18 percent, and are due to take effect in December with payments backdated to January 2026.
The increase will cost the state €430 million this year and more than €1 billion extra over the following two years.
To help meet the cost, the state government plans to save money in administration and raise civil servants’ weekly hours to 41.
AfD and BSW lawmakers abstained, and the pay change is among the first steps by a German state to implement the court ruling.
Brandenburg’s state parliament approved higher pay for about 30,000 civil servants.
The new pay law raises salaries and related benefits by 7 to 18 percent, with some individual increases reaching about 20 percent.
The increase follows a Federal Constitutional Court ruling that found civil servants’ pay too low.
The vote took place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026; sources describe it as both a majority decision and unanimous.
The state expects additional costs of €430 million this year and more than €1 billion over the following two years.
- Who
- About 30,000 civil servants in Brandenburg, including teachers, police officers and judges.
- What
- The state parliament approved a law raising civil servants’ pay and related benefits by 7 to 18 percent.
- When
- The parliament voted on October 14, 2026. The increase is retroactive to January 1, 2026, and higher payments are expected from December 1.
- Where
- Brandenburg, Germany; the vote took place in Potsdam.
- Why
- To implement a Federal Constitutional Court ruling that found civil servants’ pay too low.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The pay increase was made retroactive to this date, according to Tagesspiegel.
Brandenburg’s state parliament approved the higher-pay law.
Civil servants are expected to begin receiving the higher payments.
- Affected workers
- About 30,000 civil servants
- Pay increase
- 7 to 18 percent; about 20 percent in some cases
- Vote date
- October 14, 2026
- Expected additional cost this year
- €430 million
- Expected additional cost over the following two years
- More than €1 billion