be particularly acute if we choose to expand into new merchandise categories and internationally. Additionally, we may not be able to hire new employees quickly enough to meet our needs. If we fail to effectively manage our hiring needs or successfully integrate new hires, our efficiency, our ability to meet forecasts and our employee morale, productivity and retention could suffer, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Increases in labor costs, including wages, or other developments in labor and employment law, including any unionizing efforts by employees, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Labor is a significant portion of our cost structure and is subject to many external factors, including unemployment levels, prevailing wage rates, minimum wage laws, potential collective bargaining arrangements, health insurance costs and other insurance costs and changes in employment and labor legislation or other workplace regulation. A significant portion of our workforce is in Germany. From time to time, legislative proposals are made to increase the minimum wage in the Federal Republic of Germany and to reform entitlement programs, such as health insurance and paid leave programs. As minimum wage rates increase or related laws and regulations change, we may need to increase not only the wage rates of our minimum wage employees, but also the wages paid to our other hourly or salaried employees. The minimum wage is set nationwide every two years for the following two years. Since its last increase effective as from January 1, 2020 the minimum wage is currently €9.35 per hour. The Minimum Wage Commission has recommended an increase in four steps every 6 months from the current level to €10.45 by July 1, 2022. The Minimum Wage Commission’s recommendation is subject to Government approval. Several German political parties are calling for a significant increase, which may be decided after the 2021 federal elections. Any increase in the cost of our labor could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations or if we fail to pay such higher wages we could suffer increased employee turnover. Increases in labor costs could force us to increase prices, which could adversely impact our sales. If competitive pressures or other factors prevent us from offsetting increased labor costs by increases in prices, our profitability may decline and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In particular, the job market in Munich, Germany, where our principal offices and fulfillment center as well as the majority of our employees are located, is very competitive.
We also face the risk that the European Union or the German legislature could approve legislation or regulations and respond to rulings of higher courts that significantly affect our businesses and our relationship with our employees. None of our employees are currently covered by a collective bargaining agreement, but any attempt by our employees to organize a labor union could result in increased legal and other associated costs. If we enter into a collective bargaining agreement with our employees, the terms could adversely affect our costs, efficiency and ability to generate acceptable returns on the affected operations.
Adverse litigation judgments or settlements resulting from legal proceedings in which we may be involved could expose us to monetary damages or limit our ability to operate our business.
We have in the past and may in the future become involved in private actions, collective actions, investigations and various other legal proceedings by customers, employees, brand partners, third-party suppliers, competitors, government agencies or others. Examples of such claims include product defect and qualify claims, deceptive trade practices claims, such as the posting of strike-through prices for merchandise, employment-related claims and other claims related to our business practices. The results of any such litigation, investigations and other legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable and expensive. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, damage our reputation, require significant amounts of management time and divert significant resources. If any of these legal proceedings were to be determined adversely to us, or we were to enter into a settlement arrangement, we could be exposed to monetary damages or limits on our ability to operate our business, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our reliance on brand partners located in jurisdictions presenting an increased risk of bribery and corruption, exposes us to legal, reputational, and supply chain risk through the potential for violations of federal and international anti-corruption law.
We are subject to certain provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”). The FCPA prohibits providing, offering, promising, or authorizing, directly or indirectly, anything of value to government officials, political parties, or political candidates for the purposes of obtaining or retaining business or securing any improper business advantage. We conduct business in, or may expand our business to, certain countries where there is a high risk of corruption and extortion and in some cases, where corruption and extortion are considered to be widespread and where our companies may have to obtain approvals, licenses, permits, or other regulatory approvals from public officials. Therefore, we are exposed to the risk that our employees, consultants, agents, or other third parties working on our behalf, could make, offer, promise or authorize payments or other benefits in violation of anti-corruption laws