BERLIN, May 24 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under fire for rejecting the idea of a minimum wage of 7.50 euros, or $9.58 per hour.
Merkel, at a speech to German labor union members Wednesday, said companies should not pay unethical wages, but added she was against introducing a minimum wage applicable to all workers, drawing whistles and boos from some of the union members.
The chancellor said wages should be less for those under 25 and over 50, thereby creating more employment for those age groups.
Merkel told union members they had to accept a range of economic reforms, including the already agreed plan to increase the retirement age to 67 from 65, a move the unions oppose.
"Those who do not face the right questions will in the end come into question themselves," she said.
Merkel had to shelve most of her economic reform plans after entering a coalition government with the center-left Social Democrat Party.
