BERLIN (AFP) - Germany's ruling Social Democrats (SPD) and trade unions are in favour of introducing a national mimimum wage and could make their position officially known later this month, German media reported.
"The party and the unions are agreed on the principle that it is right to introduce a minimum wage set by the law," senior SPD official Andrea Nahles told the Berliner Zeitung.
"The party is waiting to see what the unions propose on a case by case basis," she added.
According to union sources, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party is due to make a joint announcement with union leaders on the introduction of a minimum wage during a congress of trade unions on November 29.
Although the sources said that a minimum wage would not be brought in before the next general election in 2006, and that the unions could rally behind the SPD if it makes the minimum wage an campaign issue.
Germany's unions remain divided on the issue. The services union, Ver.di, is calling for a single minimum wage across all sectors, while the metal workers union IG Metall argues that wages should be set branch by branch.
The ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens started floating the idea of a minimum wage in recent months, following a groundswell of popular opposition to the government's labour market and social security reforms.
Under the current system, wages and working hours are generally set sector by sector through negotiations between management and staff representatives, without involvement by the state.
11/13/2004 - 19:29 GMT - AFP