Big changes are coming in May 2024. A minimum wage increases, as does the ticket tax for air travel. There are also new rules for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Hamm - Not a new month without innovations. May 2024 will bring many smaller and larger changes and new regulations - with consequences for many people in Germany. This includes, among other things, higher ticket taxes for air travel, minimum wage, pensions and the Eurovision Song Contest.
wa.de
gives an overview of what is new and important.
Changes in May 2024: Overview of everything that's new and important
The year 2024 is full of innovations and changes. These are the most important ones in May 2024:
A month full of holidays
Who can retire on May 1st
Higher ticket tax for air travel
Minimum wage in nursing is rising
Deutsche Bahn app is being discontinued
New bio-diesel at gas stations
New field on the ID card
Bad cards for crazy holidaymakers in Switzerland
More information when buying a new car
AI warnings on Facebook and Instagram
New rules for the Eurovision Song Contest
Changes in May 2024: A month full of holidays
May is considered a wonderful month. It is certainly the case for employees this year, because due to the early Easter date it is peppered with public holidays that can be cleverly extended with the help of bridging days. May starts on a Wednesday with Labor Day. On Thursday, May 9th, Ascension Day is celebrated across Germany, with another day off being Whit Monday, May 20th. Towards the end of the month there is also Corpus Christi on Thursday, May 30th. However, the latter is not a public holiday in all federal states. This month there is also Father's Day on May 9th and Mother's Day on May 12th.
Changes in May 2024: Who can retire on May 1st
As of May 1, 2024, retirement is possible for different birth cohorts - with and without deductions:
Standard old-age pension:
Born between April 2nd, 1958 and May 1st, 1958 inclusive, reaching the age of 66 - without deduction
Old-age pension for those with long-term insurance
(waiting period of 35 years): Born from April 2, 1961 to May 1, 1961 inclusive - with a 12.6 percent deduction.
Old-age pension for those who have been insured for a particularly long time (waiting period of 45 years):
People who were born between January 2nd and May 1st, 1960 can claim this old-age pension upon reaching the age of 64 and two calendar months - without deduction.
Old-age pension for severely disabled people:
Born between August 2, 1962 and September 1, 1962 inclusive - with a 10.8 percent discount.
By the way, the pension will not be paid out until very late in May. In June 2024, on the other hand, money will be available unusually early, as an overview of dates shows.
Changes in May 2024: Higher ticket tax for air travel
If you like to spend your vacation far away, you have to expect higher prices for air travel. The reason: On May 1, 2024, the aviation tax will rise by a good 20 percent. The airlines have to pay the surcharges, but they can pass the flight tax on to the passengers. Particularly in the area of so-called cheap flights to Mallorca, for example, the tax can make up a significant proportion of the total flight price, as a model calculation shows. Taxes change per passenger as follows:
Distance class I (Europe): 15.53 euros (previously 12.73 euros)
Distance class II (medium distance, e.g. North Africa or the Middle East): 38.72 euros (previously 32.25 euros)
Distance class III (long distance, e.g. North and South America): 70.83 euros (previously 58.06 euros)
Changes in May 2024: Minimum wage in care increases
Good news for employees in geriatric care: The minimum wage in this industry will increase on May 1st. In the future, unskilled workers will receive at least 15.50 euros per hour instead of the previous 14.15 euros. The minimum wage increases from 15.25 to 16.50 euros for qualified nursing assistants and from 18.25 to 19.50 euros per hour for nursing assistants. There is also more vacation for employees in geriatric care.
Changes in May 2024: Deutsche Bahn app will be discontinued
Rail customers who have previously used the DB Route Agent smartphone app will have to change. Deutsche Bahn will discontinue them on May 2, 2024. With the offer, passengers could, for example, be alerted about current disruptions. In the future, this function will be available in the DB Navigator app. “If you have installed the DB Navigator and the route agent, you can replace the route agent with the Regio Guide app from May 2, 2024. The options will be offered to you automatically from May 2nd as soon as you activate the route agent,” the railway said.
Changes in May 2024: New bio-diesel at gas stations
Germany wants to become climate neutral. New and more environmentally friendly diesel fuels should help. Several new alternatives are to be introduced at gas stations in the spring. The first ones could be officially available in May. An exact date is not yet known. Before car owners lift the fuel tank, they should find out whether their car can tolerate the new fuels such as XLT, HVO or B10.
Changes in May 2024: New field on the ID card
Germany, your doctorate: For foreign border authorities, the “Dr.” sometimes causes problems, which will be resolved with a change to the identity card from May. Anyone who applies for a new ID or passport from May 1st and has a doctorate will receive a new data field.
Changes in May 2024: Bad cards for frantic vacationers in Switzerland
Anyone who drives too fast in Switzerland or receives a ticket for illegal parking will in future be asked to pay by the Federal Republic of Germany. This is regulated by a new treaty between the two countries. Until now, it was often possible to sit out the sometimes high fines from Switzerland. In neighboring Austria, particularly reckless speeders have even been threatened with having their cars confiscated since March.
Changes in May 2024: More information when buying a new car
Speaking of cars: Anyone who buys a new car will receive more information from the dealer from May 1st. Specific consumption and emissions information is required. The methodology for the CO2 color scale is also changing: As before, a car is classified from A (green) to G (red), but the weight no longer plays a role. Above all, however, the possible CO2 costs over ten years must be shown.
Changes in May 2024: AI warnings on Facebook and Instagram
From May 2024, the Facebook group Meta will allow more photos and videos generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence with warnings on its platforms (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Threads) instead of deleting them. The rules address content on important topics that could mislead the public.
Changes in May 2024: New rules for the Eurovision Song Contest
The European singing competition is on again on May 11th. New rules are intended to make the Eurovision Song Contest more exciting. It is primarily about the appearances of the five largest donors, including Germany. The so-called Big Five will also perform live in the two semi-finals in full, although they will certainly be in the actual final. Germany's ESC candidate Isaak Guderian speaks of a privilege in this context, as he explains in an interview with wa.de. m On the final evening, telephone and online voting will also be activated at the start of the first performance, so that you can cast your vote directly under the impression of the live experience.