Thuringian care workers protest German nursing reform in Hannover

Thousands of care workers and supporters from Thuringia gathered in Hannover on 10 June 2026 to protest the federal government's plan to reform the nursing and health‑insurance system. The demonstrators, organised by Verdi, warned that the proposed withdrawal of tariff‑wage refinancing – introduced in 2022 – could push providers such as the Valde Vita nursing service into insolvency and make the profession less attractive, especially for part‑time staff and family caregivers. A senior manager, Yvonne Franke, argued that without the refinancing “we risk insolvency or losing tariff wages, which would undermine the whole sector.”

Thuringia's interior minister, Georg Maier, echoed the concerns in a podcast, saying many citizens fear the reforms, especially the planned pension cuts for caregivers. He criticised the federal government's handling of the changes, warned that populist parties could exploit the anxiety, and urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to improve communication and maintain unity between the Union and SPD.