The BTE is convinced that the current discussion about a politically predetermined increase in the minimum wage to 15 euros in 2026 also causes many textile, shoe and leather goods dealers. Much of the companies cannot afford such a high cost increase in business. Sales have been stagnating in the inpatient textile and outfit trade for years, while the costs have risen by around 20% in the past five years, the BTE argues. The minimum wages have even increased by over 30% since the beginning of 2022. “Many medium-sized specialty shops would continue to increase to 15 euros and the necessary adjustments in higher salary levels in the red,” explains BTE President Mark Rauschen.
The reason for this is that cost increases could hardly be passed on to customers due to the intensive competition in the entire fashion industry. Otherwise, customers would migrate to cheaper trading formats. “In the worst case, they end up in Asian cheap platforms with often inferior and sometimes non -legally not legally capable goods,” said Rauschen. “This is how jobs and tax revenue in Germany are lost!”
Most business cannot wear such a high level of personnel costs, the BTE clarifies. According to a recent survey by the association, half of the textile, shoe and leather goods dealers were deficient (including calculated costs) last year. In more than a quarter, the operational loss was even more than 5% of sales. “If the salaries are now increasing above average as a result of the minimum raising, we expect an insolvency and closure wave in fashion and shoe trade,” predicts the BTE president.
Medium-sized specialty shops are dependent on good employees because they want to offer their customers a high quality of service and advice, according to the BTE. “We are happy to pay good and performance -based salaries, but we basically reject a politically defined minimum wage,” states Mark Rauschen. “For a good reason, tariff autonomy has constitutional rank for good reason and must remain protected against political interventions!”
