At the turn of the year 2025/2026, numerous legal changes will come into force. They not only affect individual areas of life, but also range from employment law, competition and IT law to civil procedural law. The following overview summarizes the most important changes in a comprehensible way.
Labor law: Higher wages, new transparency obligations
Significantly higher minimum wage: From January 1, 2026, the statutory minimum wage will rise to €13.90 gross per hour. This means the increase will be higher than in previous years. At the same time, subsequent values such as the mini-job limit will increase.
New mini-job earnings limit: The higher minimum wage increases the monthly mini-job limit to €603. This means that mini-jobs remain exempt from social security contributions, but allow a higher income.
Easier continued employment after retirement: From 2026, employers will be able to continue to employ pensioners for a fixed term without a substantive reason, even if an employment relationship already existed beforehand. In future, fixed-term employment will be possible for up to eight years with multiple extensions.
More pay transparency: The EU Pay Transparency Directive will be implemented in 2026. In future, employers must, among other things:
- State salary details or salary ranges in job advertisements,
- provide employees with information on comparative salaries,
- prepare regular remuneration reports (from 100 employees),
- bear the burden of proof for fair payment in the event of a dispute.
Competition law & advertising law: Greenwashing becomes risky
Stricter rules for environmental claims: From September 2026, new regulations will apply to advertising with environmental and sustainability claims. The aim is to combat greenwashing. Among other things, the following will be prohibited:
- blanket environmental promises without independent proof,
- Sustainability seal without certification,
- Statements such as “climate-neutral” or “CO₂-positive” on a mere offsetting basis,
- misleading information on the shelf life or reparability of products.
In future, companies will have to check their advertising very carefully.
IT, data protection & digital law: new obligations for companies
AI Regulation: labeling requirements from August 2026: AI-generated content (texts, images, videos, audios) must be clearly labeled as such in the future. This applies in particular to:
- Chatbots,
- Deepfakes,
- Content on topics of public interest.
High-risk AI systems are subject to additional requirements; however, their application could be postponed.
NIS 2 directive for more IT security: From 2026, significantly stricter IT security requirements will apply to many companies – even outside of traditional “critical infrastructures”. Companies affected include those with:
- at least 50 employees or
- more than € 10 million in annual sales.
Obligations include registration, security measures and reporting IT incidents to the BSI.
Sales, consumer & e-commerce law
Right to repair: Consumers have a legal right to repair certain products (e.g. washing machines, smartphones). If the product is repaired instead of bought new, the warranty period is extended to three years.
Withdrawal button in online retail: From June 19, 2026, online stores must provide an easy-to-find withdrawal button. Withdrawal must be just as easy as concluding a contract.
New information obligations on guarantees and warranties: From September 2026, manufacturers and retailers must provide clear information on existing guarantee and warranty claims – including standardized EU labels.
Civil procedural law: Procedures are being restructured
Local courts have jurisdiction up to € 10,000: From 2026, local courts will generally have jurisdiction for amounts in dispute up to €10,000 (previously €5,000). This affects many everyday disputes and can simplify proceedings.
Higher thresholds for appeals: The thresholds for appeals, complaints and complaints against denial of leave to appeal will be raised significantly. This restricts legal remedies, but speeds up proceedings.
