2 German prisoners win cases in highest court for not being fairly paid for work

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The highest court in Germany has ruled in favor of two prisoners who complained about the inadequate compensation they received for their work while incarcerated.

The country's constitutional court on Tuesday declared that the prevailing remuneration rate of less than €3 ($3.2) per hour for prisoners in two German states, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, falls below acceptable standards and is inadequate, according to German media.

In Germany, it is a common practice for most incarcerated individuals serving criminal sentences to engage in work, provided they are physically capable. This approach aims to facilitate their reintegration into society and potentially equip them with marketable skills upon release.

However, the compensation for their work is mandated as well. The responsibility for determining payment rates lies with the individual German states rather than the federal government, resulting in considerable variation across systems and rates.

These figures are generally set at a modest level due to several factors. Firstly, inmates are exempt from paying taxes, and their basic needs such as food and accommodation are covered by the state.

Prisoners in the two states typically receive remuneration between €1.37 ($1.50) and €2.30 per hour.

Germany's minimum wage for the general population stands at €12 per hour.