Lidl and Kaufland parent Schwarz Group will increase the monthly remuneration of its trainees, participants in high school graduate programmes, and dual students by €150 gross, effective 1 April 2025.
For trainees, this hike translates to a monthly salary of €1,250 in the first year of training, €1,350 in the second, and €1,500 in the third, it noted in a statement.
Participants of the high school graduate programme will receive a monthly salary of €1,350 in the first year and €1,500 in the second.
Dual students will earn €1,650 per month in the first year of training, €1,750 in the second, and €1,950 in the third.
Moreover, the company added that it would continue to pay holiday and Christmas bonuses to all three career starter groups.
'An Important Building Block'
Roland Hehn, director of human resources at Schwarz Corporate Solutions, stated, "A changing world needs people who shape it. For the companies in the Schwarz Group, education is an important building block for a successful future.
"That is why we promote our young talents. With the salary increase, we want to send a clear signal for fair remuneration and express our appreciation."
Last year, Lidl raised its minimum starting wage to €15 per hour. The increased wage is 20% above the current statutory minimum wage of €12.41 per hour in Germany, the company noted.
In 2010, Lidl introduced an internal minimum starting wage and the discounter regularly increased it in recent years.
Schwarz Group reported a 'successful' financial year 2023 with an 8.5% increase in revenue to €167.2 billion. The company attributed this growth to higher prices due to inflation, improved processes and further digitalisation.
Improved processes and cost management helped Schwarz Group to partially absorb higher purchase prices, particularly for merchandise, raw materials, energy and transport and interest rates.
