Employees

(32) Personnel expenses

Personnel expenses comprised the following:

Personnel expenses

€ million

 

2025

 

2024

Wages and salaries

 

5,781

 

5,403

Compulsory social security contributions and other costs

 

891

 

917

Pension expenses

 

294

 

375

Personnel expenses

 

6,965

 

6,695

Personnel expenses comprised expenses of € 131 million (2024: € 205 million) for defined contribution plans, which are funded exclusively using external funds and therefore do not represent any obligation for the Group other than making contribution payments. In the previous year, expenses for defined-contribution pension plans also included expenses of € 61 million for health and long-term care insurance in the USA, which were reported under wages and salaries in the fiscal year. In addition, employer contributions amounting to € 100 million (2024: € 98 million) were transferred to the German statutory pension insurance system, and contributions amounting to € 127 million (2024: € 121 million) were transferred to statutory pension insurance systems abroad.

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