[Serbia] Government proposes minimum wage hike of 8% to 10%

During talks with unions and employers on August 19, the Serbian government proposed a minimum monthly wage rise of 8 per cent to 10 per cent for 2025, SeeNews reports.

Finance Ministry state secretary Sasa Stevanovic announced the proposal to local media.

In an interview with Tanjug news agency, Mr Stevanovic reportedly reiterated that President Aleksandar Vucic has set a goal for the minimum wage to reach €650 ($720) by 2027.

The minimum monthly wage in Serbia currently amounts to 47,154 dinars (€403), a rate 17.8 per cent higher than in 2023.

The unions stated they were "shocked" by the government's proposal and labelled it absolutely unacceptable. 

Zoran Mihajlovic - council secretary of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia - was quoted by news agency Beta as saying that the unions asked for a 30 per cent increase in the minimum wage while employers offered a 7.7 per cent rise.

Mr Mihajlovic noted that the minimum wage, with the increase proposed by the government, would amount to around 51,000 dinars (€436) and would still fail to cover the costs of the minimum consumer basket.

In May, the price of the minimum consumer basket in Serbia totalled 53,517 dinars, while the average consumer basket stood at 104,409 dinars, according to the most recent data from the country's trade ministry.

Minimum wage negotiations began on August 15 and should be completed by September 15. If no agreement is reached, the percentage of the increase will be determined by the state.

Source: SeeNews

During talks with unions and employers on August 19, the Serbian government proposed a minimum monthly wage rise of 8 per cent to 10 per cent for 2025, SeeNews reports.

Finance Ministry state secretary Sasa Stevanovic announced the proposal to local media.

In an interview with Tanjug news agency, Mr Stevanovic reportedly reiterated that President Aleksandar Vucic has set a goal for the minimum wage to reach €650 ($720) by 2027.

The minimum monthly wage in Serbia currently amounts to 47,154 dinars (€403), a rate 17.8 per cent higher than in 2023.

The unions stated they were "shocked" by the government's proposal and labelled it absolutely unacceptable. 

Zoran Mihajlovic - council secretary of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia - was quoted by news agency Beta as saying that the unions asked for a 30 per cent increase in the minimum wage while employers offered a 7.7 per cent rise.

Mr Mihajlovic noted that the minimum wage, with the increase proposed by the government, would amount to around 51,000 dinars (€436) and would still fail to cover the costs of the minimum consumer basket.

In May, the price of the minimum consumer basket in Serbia totalled 53,517 dinars, while the average consumer basket stood at 104,409 dinars, according to the most recent data from the country's trade ministry.

Minimum wage negotiations began on August 15 and should be completed by September 15. If no agreement is reached, the percentage of the increase will be determined by the state.

Source: SeeNews