Serbian government decides on minimum wage

Speaking after a meeting of the Socio-Economic Council on Thursday, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that the minimum wage next year would be at 35,012 Dinars a month (1 Euro – 118 Dinars), a raise of 9.4 percent over this year’s minimum wage. The amount was proposed earlier by President Aleksandar Vucic and other state officials which the unions represented on the Council opposed demanding that it be raised to the level of the consumer basket.

The decision on the minimum wage can be taken by the Council if all its members reach an agreement or by the government if no agreement is reached within 15 days of the start of negotiations.

Brnabic said that the minimum wage covers 89 percent of the cost of the minimum consumer basket and added that she understands why the unions disagree with the decision.