Marginal employment

Minor employment (also called "mini-jobs" or "400-euro jobs") is according to German social security law an employment relationship with a low absolute level of earnings (slightly salaried employment), or employment relationship of short duration (short-term employment). In Germany such employment is exempt from social security, and there are even special features in the income tax law.

In March 2009 there were about 4.9 million marginal workers in Germany.

In 2011-12-07 it was reported that the European Central Bank sent a letter in August to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's government, suggesting that Spain implemented a mini-jobs job category with salaries lower 400 euros, a value considerably lower than Spain's minimum wage of 641 euros. This suggestion was presented as a condition for the European Central Bank to continue purchasing Spain's debt.