Willingmann (SPD) Wants to Keep Minijobs for Students Despite Reform

Herz — World Desk · 14 July 2026 at 01:21 · 30s summary · 2 min read

What We Know

Armin Willingmann, SPD's leading candidate in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt elections, is defending the preservation of minijobs — a form of low-income employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung) where employees are generally exempt from social security contributions up to a legal monthly threshold — for students. He expressed these positions to journalists from Funke Media Group, formerly known as WAZ Media Group, based in Essen.

The Alterssicherungskommission, an advisory commission tasked with evaluating Germany's pension system and formulating proposals for structural pension reform, has proposed converting minijobs broadly into regular employment subject to social contributions.

Willingmann supports this proposal in principle but deems it essential that an exception apply to students.

Context

Germany's pension system, Europe's oldest according to Wikipedia, rests on three pillars: mandatory state-run pension insurance financed by contributions, supplementary occupational pensions, and individual voluntary savings. It underwent major reforms in 2001 and 2005, followed by the introduction of a statutory minimum pension in 2020 to combat elderly poverty.

Minijobs were established in their modern form through the Hartz II reforms of 2003, with social security contribution exemptions for employees below a certain monthly income threshold.

Timeline

1. 2003
   The Hartz II reforms establish the modern legal framework for minijobs in Germany, with social security contribution exemptions for employees below a legal monthly threshold.
2. October 2022
   The monthly minijob threshold is raised from €450 to €520 as part of the minimum wage legislation of the Ampel coalition government (SPD-Greens-FDP).
3. July 14, 2026
   Willingmann calls for maintaining minijobs for students, while supporting in principle the reform proposed by the Alterssicherungskommission.