Income distribution

Ljubljana – Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said on Thursday that helping employers cover part of the minimum wage raise would cost the state some EUR 47 million.

The proposal to that effect will be included in the eighth economic stimulus bill, which could be in parliament in the middle of next week, he told the press.

Ljubljana – The Employers’ Association is not supporting the Labour Ministry’s proposal to partly cover the minimum wage rise for employers for a limited period of time since it thinks such a measure would offset less than 40% of the increase in labour costs. The organisation urges a better solution.

Brdo pri Kranju/Ljubljana – Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj has announced after meeting social partners on Tuesday that he will set the minimum wage for 2021 at EUR 1,024 gross. This is 120% of the minimum cost of living and the lowest possible rise under minimum wage legislation. Last year, the minimum wage stood at EUR 941 gross.

The Government approved, on Wednesday, the normative act establishing the minimum gross salary for 2021 at 2,300 lei per month, Prime Minister Florin Citu announced. "We approved the normative act which establishes the minimum salary for 2021, you already know, at 2,300 lei. I know that there were discussions in the public space if it can be applied from January 1.

Ljubljana – The statutory minimum wage is scheduled to increase in January under legislation passed in 2018. A new formula tying the minimum wage to cost of living will be used. Preliminary calculations show it will stand at roughly EUR 736 net.

Ljubljana – The government has extended by another three months most measures aimed at helping businesses, farmers and employees bridge the crisis. The measures that would have expired at the end of the year will thus be in place until the end of March.

Ljubljana – The government adopted on Saturday a new economic stimulus package. Direct income support for groups including pensioners, students and those with the lowest wages is planned along with aid for companies. Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj said the package is estimated at around EUR 550 million.

Ljubljana – The Economic and Social Council (ESS) debated on Friday the bill on a new national demographic fund, but not much progress was made as both the employer and trade union representatives still do not support it. The two meanwhile remain on the opposite sides regarding plans to freeze the scheduled increase in the minimum wage.

The minimum wage in Bulgaria will become BGN 650. From 1 January 2021, it will rise by 6.6% compared to this year, the government has decided.

Chairman of the Save Romania Union (USR) Bucharest branch Claudiu Nasui welcomes the government's plans to cover between 35 and 41.5 percent of the gross wage for every employee who returns to work, but considers that the measure should be broadened in the form of a tax exemption for the minimum wage. "The Orban Government has a good idea and must be supported to implement it.