Proposed pension reforms in Germany threaten the net income of millions of “mini-job” workers – those employed in low-wage, often part-time positions. The changes aim to incentivize higher contributions to the state pension scheme, but could result in reduced take-home pay for individuals in roles like household help, students, and those with secondary jobs. Experts warn that the reforms may push some workers towards undeclared employment (“black work”) to avoid the financial impact. The core issue revolves around increased social security contributions for mini-jobbers, potentially negating the benefit of the low tax rate currently applied. Concerns are rising that the plan could disproportionately affect vulnerable workers and reduce the availability of affordable services. The government maintains the reforms are necessary to strengthen the pension system long-term, but critics argue the immediate consequences for low-income earners haven’t been adequately addressed.