Whether Corona requirements, the start of sales of the 49-euro ticket or the final end for nuclear power plants: In April there will be far-reaching innovations for private households. An overview.
Munich – April 2023 will bring some changes: The last remaining Corona requirements are expiring and the sale of the 49-euro ticket will start. In addition, the minimum wages are rising in individual collective bargaining sectors and Microsoft’s office applications are becoming more expensive. An overview:
End of the last Corona editions
The last nationwide restrictions due to the Corona-Pandemics out of. Until then, visitors to healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and medical practices are still obliged to wear a protective mask. The legal obligation no longer applies to residents and employees of the facilities.
The federal states are allowed until April 7th to introduce or maintain further regulations, such as a mask requirement in local public transport or a test requirement at certain events. However, hardly any use has been made of these options recently.
Start of the official advance sale of the 49-euro ticket
The official sale of the 49-euro ticket for local public transport, which is valid throughout Germany, starts on April 3rd. On Friday (March 31), the Federal Council also gave the green light for the financing, paving the way for the long-awaited public transport solution. The ticket is then valid from May 1st. In many transport associations you can already pre-order the ticket. There is often a special notice period for existing subscriptions, which are then fully or partially merged into the new Deutschlandticket.
Over for the last German nuclear power plants
Germany’s exit from nuclear energy, originally planned for the turn of the year, will finally be completed in April. The remaining three German nuclear power plants Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland will be taken off the grid by April 15 at the latest. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) has ruled out a further extension of the terms, even if the coalition partner FDP and the Union continue to demand this.
Wage increases: More money in several industries
The minimum wage for painters and varnishers will increase on April 1st. For journeymen it is then 14.50 euros and for helpers 12.50 euros. In addition, the minimum wages in the main construction trades will increase by 60 cents per hour.
Installation of heat pumps: craftsmen receive training
From April, the Federal Ministry of Economics will be funding training courses for the installation of heat pumps in existing buildings. The target group are trained tradespeople, energy consultants and building planners. Companies can receive funding of up to EUR 5,000. Applications must be submitted to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.
Microsoft Office is getting more expensive
According to Microsoft, the prices for its cloud services are adjusted to the rates of other national currencies against the dollar. For the euro, this means an eleven percent price increase for new subscriptions from April 1st. Cloud services also include Office programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook. (AFP/row)
