Labour Minister Tomas: Minimum Wage to Reach €915 per Month in 2026

Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - The social partners (representatives of employers and employees) have failed to agree on the level of next year's minimum wage, so it will be determined by a Labour Ministry automaton, resulting in an increase of nearly €100 to a total of €915 per month, said Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) on Monday after a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (HSR). "The law states that if the social partners fail to reach an agreement, the last tripartite meeting before 31 August will decide on the minimum wage. And since the social partners haven't reached an agreement for next year, the automaton has come into play, setting the minimum wage at 60 percent of the average salary," said Tomas. According to estimates, the minister believes that the minimum wage should reach €960 per month in 2027 and exceed €1,000 in 2028, reaching a total of €1,020. Tomas stated that the increase is also positive for people who work non-standard hours, such as on night shifts or at weekends. "The minimum wage is linked to bonuses for working these non-standard hours, and these bonuses also increase along with the wage. Employers have recently faced particular challenges with the rising cost of bonuses, as these are tied to the minimum wage," the minister added. lin/df