The minimum wage in the private sector is expected to reach 751 euros – i.e. the pre-monetary levels after 10 years – on May 1, 2023. The Greek Prime Minister is expected to announce his intentions to raise the minimum wage during the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and then the Greek labour minister will accelerate the process.
The Commission’s estimates that put inflation at 8% for 2022, the increase in commodity and raw material prices, as well as the possibility of elections next spring, create scenarios within the government to speed up the process of the new minimum wage increase.
OECD estimates
It should be noted here that the OECD, in its report on the economic outlook of its members published in June, shows Greece as the champion in the loss of real income in 2022, due to price hikes. More specifically, Greek citizens are estimated to lose 6.9% of their real income in 2022.
According to government circles, once again the process of formulating the new minimum wage is being accelerated, which will start early in 2023 (possibly even earlier), so that the government and social partners can come to an agreement on the new, increased minimum wage, which will apply from 1 May 2023. As a reminder, from 1 May 2022 the minimum wage was increased to 713 from 663 euros previously.
The pros of the increase
According to the Greek Ministry of Labour, given that 14 salaries are paid per year, the minimum wage increase equals to one additional salary (50 euros the monthly increase multiplied by 14 salaries = 700 euros).
Monthly earnings, taking into account the payment of 14 salaries per year, amount to €831.8, up from €773.5, today. The nearly 650,000 workers paid with the minimum wage will gain an extra salary per year. In other words, a 15th salary will be added to their income from now on.
If the previous increase in the minimum wage, which took place on 1 January 2022, is taken into account, this results in an increase of 9.7% or 63 euros per month (from 650 euros to 713 euros). Given that 14 salaries are paid, this double increase in the minimum wage in 2022 amounts to 882 euros per year (63 euros times 14 salaries).
As the ministry has pointed out, “In reality, however, the net wage increase is even higher, amounting to 11.81%, if the 1.63 percentage point reduction in the social security contributions paid by employees, which has already been implemented, is taken into account. From these two minimum wage increases in 2022 and because of the reduction in social security contributions the additional amount of money the workers gain annually amount to €906”.
The “three-year periods”
Regarding the so-called “three-year periods”, i.e. the years of work experience that the employees paid with the minimum wage have, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has already clarified that they will continue to be paid.
In particular, the minimum wage and the minimum daily wage are increased by up to 30% depending on the years of service completed by the employee before 14 February 2012.
As a consequence, the gross monthly minimum wage for workers with three years of professional experience may be up to €213 higher (€713 + 30%). In this case, the minimum wage may amount to €926 plus Christmas bonus, Easter bonus and vacation pay.
At the same time, the increase in the minimum wage has also brought increases in allowances. For example, as of 1 May 2022, the unemployment benefit was increased to 438 euros from 407.25 euros previously and the daily allowance was increased to 17.51 euros from 16.29 euros.
Latest News
Layoffs in Greece on Par with Hires for September: ERGANI
The data is expected as the country's tourist season ended, resulting in an upswing in the number of employees departing as thousands of seasonal workers are left out of the job market
International Xinomavro Day: Honoring Greece’s Premier Grape on November 1st
This initiative was met with an enthusiastic response across Greece and has since been embraced internationally.
Greek Fin. Min. Hatzidakis: Tax Reductions Planned for 2025-2027
“We want to further reduce taxes, not because we want to be agreeable, but because we can,” said the minister.
Athens Metro Extends Weekend Hours to 2 a.m. on Lines 2 and 3
As part of the Strategic Transport Plan, the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) is also preparing significant changes to city bus routes, set to be completed by May 2025.
Greece Needs Reforms for Ratings Upgrade
Fitch is expected to release its evaluation of the Greek economy on Nov. 22, with a possible scenario being an upgrade of the economy from “stable” to “positive”
EFKA Overhaul to Enable Online Access to Social Security Info
Greece's pension and social security system has been so bureaucratic and complex that some citizens hire consultants simply to understand their work credits and benefits.
Greek Authorities Issue Safety Tips After Spike in ‘Phishing’ Scams
According to the Ministry's announcement, unsuspecting citizens were being urged to visit a specific website to check for their so-called "unclaimed benefits"
Greek Construction: €5.3bln Investment in 4 Years, Says Alpha Bank Report
Alpha Bank underlines that despite these drawbacks, the construction building sector has shown positive performance since the beginning of the year, maintaining the growth trajectory of recent years
Faliro Delta Park Set for Construction After Securing Funds
The 54-hectare park to be constructed on the coastal front in Faliro near Athens is scheduled to be handed over to the public by 2028
PM Mitsotakis Inaugurates Modern AADE Headquarters
He also stressed that his government is in an ongoing “fight” against tax evasion, emphasizing that “As tax evasion decreases, we will proceed with further tax reductions