Sailors to earn 5.8 percent more money in the future - German Seafarers Secure 5.8% Wage Hike in New Labor Deal
The deal spans 30 months and includes two separate pay rises. The first, a 3 per cent increase, will take effect at the start of 2026. A second rise of 2.8 per cent will follow in early 2027.
Most of Germany’s merchant fleet operates under foreign flags to cut costs. By the end of last year, only about 15 per cent of vessels still flew the German flag. The wage boost will apply only to those remaining ships, including eight heavy-cargo vessels run by SAL, part of the Harren Group. These ships operate in cooperation with SAL Intermarine.
While the agreement provides some relief, it does not fully compensate for past real-wage losses. The deal was reached after negotiations between ver.di and the VDR, but neither side has confirmed how many seafarers will directly benefit.
The new collective bargaining agreement secures pay rises for seafarers on German-flagged ships. The first increase arrives in January 2026, with a second due a year later. Companies like SAL, which operates under the German flag, will now implement the changes for their crews.
