Where the questions come from
German law makes the client jointly liable for minimum wages across the entire chain of subcontractors (§ 13 of the Minimum Wage Act together with § 14 of the Posted Workers Act). If a subcontractor fails to pay the minimum, its workers can claim the difference directly from the main contractor — and they do so successfully.
The liability applies regardless of fault. Careful selection alone is no defence; documentation is.
Documents the client will ask for
- An A1 certificate for every worker entering the site.
- Confirmation of the posting notification from meldeportal-mindestlohn.de.
- Pay evidence for recent months showing the hourly rate.
- Working-time records for each worker.
- A company register extract (KRS or CEIDG) with a translation.
- Public liability insurance covering work in Germany.
- Clearance certificates for social security contributions and taxes.
Rates the price must cover
| Work | Floor | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Main construction (bricklaying, concrete, carpentry etc.) | €13.90/h | statutory minimum wage (no sector minimum since 2022) |
| Roofing, electrical, painting, scaffolding | €14.35–16.60/h | sector minimum under the AEntG, see the minimum wage guide |
A conspicuously low bid is a warning sign: if the calculation cannot carry the minimum wage plus payroll costs, travel and accommodation, the shortfall becomes the client's liability later.
A model clause for the subcontract
„Der Auftragnehmer verpflichtet sich, alle eingesetzten Arbeitnehmer nach den Vorgaben des AEntG und des MiLoG zu entlohnen. Er legt auf Verlangen Lohnnachweise, Arbeitszeitaufzeichnungen, A1-Bescheinigungen und den Meldenachweis vor. Bei Verstößen ist der Auftraggeber zur fristlosen Kündigung berechtigt.”
In English: the contractor undertakes to pay all deployed workers in accordance with the Posted Workers Act and the Minimum Wage Act, and to produce pay records, working-time records, A1 certificates and the notification confirmation on request. In case of breach, the client may terminate the contract without notice.