The increase in the minimum wage in Greece comes into effect today, the Greek agency ANA-MPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Compared to 2019, the wage has increased by 41.54 percent. The gross minimum wage is now 920 euros, up from 882 euros.
According to data from the Ministry of Labor, the total increase in the minimum wage in 2019 is 270 euros per month or 3,780 euros per year.
The change will directly affect the wages of 700,000 jobs in the private sector, all tax employees and a number of social payments.
An example of this is unemployment benefits, which will increase from 540 euros to 565 euros, reports the online edition of the newspaper "Ta Nea".
This is the sixth consecutive increase in the minimum monthly wage made by the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
According to trade unions, the increase in wages by only 40 euros is very small considering the constantly increasing is valued. Data from the country's largest private sector union, the General Confederation of Labor (GSEE), show that a large proportion of workers are struggling to meet their basic needs, and Greece continues to rank last in the purchasing power rankings. According to the union's calculations, the minimum wage needed for a decent life is 1,052 euros.