Tomas: Minimum Wage Has Risen by Nearly €100 per Month Since January 2026

Bratislava, 2 January (TASR) - The minimum wage has increased to €915 per month as of 1 January this year, up by €99 year-on-year, which is the biggest increase in the minimum wage in Slovakia's history, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) told a press conference on Friday. When the social partners failed to reach an agreement on the level of the minimum wage, it was determined by the so-called 'automaton', which set it at 60 percent of the average wage in the previous year. Bonuses for night and weekend work saw a rise as well, as they're linked to the minimum wage. "In 2026, we estimate the costs for night and weekend work bonuses at €383 million, of which €316 million should apply to the business sector. For these bonuses, the difference between the old and the new automaton in 2026 will represent €15.5 million," said Tomas. According to data from the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry, there are some 127,000 people in Slovakia who earn the minimum wage. When considering all of the minimum wage levels based on job difficulty, this involves approximately 180,000 employees. One positive trend is that the number of people working for the minimum wage has been declining in recent years, said Tomas. jrg/df