Chemical Industry Collective Agreement Sees Wage Increase in 2025

On April 24, 2025, a significant milestone was reached in the collective bargaining negotiations for the chemical industry in Austria, affecting approximately 50,000 workers. After an extensive 13-hour negotiation session, a consensus was achieved to increase wages and salaries by 2.65%, with a minimum increase of 80 euros and a maximum of 113 euros, effective from May 1.

The agreement stipulates that salaries for the highest job categories (V to VI) will receive a fixed increase of 60 euros. Additionally, apprentice wages will also see a rise of 2.65%.

Negotiators from the unions indicated that the discussions were challenging due to the prevailing economic conditions. However, they managed to secure sustainable wage increases for employees in the chemical sector, successfully opposing the employers' push for one-time bonuses. The negotiators highlighted the importance of addressing low-income earners, achieving a key demand with the guaranteed minimum increase of 80 euros.

Key elements of the agreement include:

• Minimum wages will rise by 2.65%.
• Minimum salaries in categories I to III, as well as in the master group MI, will also increase by 2.65%. Salaries in categories IV, IVa, MII, and MIII will see a maximum increase of 113 euros.
• The minimum salaries for categories V and VI will increase by a fixed amount of 60 euros.
• Current wages and salaries will be adjusted by 2.65%, with a minimum increase of 80 euros and a maximum of 113 euros.
• Apprentice wages will see a 2.65% increase.
• Shift and night work allowances will also rise by 2.65%.
• Compensatory allowances and exhibition fees will increase by 2%.
• The tax-free mileage reimbursement will be raised to 0.50 euros for up to 30,000 kilometers per year.

This agreement marks the first successful outcome of the spring wage negotiations for 2025 within several of Austria's largest industrial sectors. The next scheduled negotiation round will focus on the electrical and electronics industries on April 30.

For further inquiries, representatives from the negotiating unions are available for contact.