Statutory minimum wages

The legislation of all countries in the region makes provision for a national minimum wage. The rates of minimum wages are regularly adjusted to reflect developments in labour markets. For a small proportion of the workforce that is low skilled or qualified, the minimum wage has a direct impact, particularly in services, but also constitutes an important benchmark for earnings expectations.

Minimum wages as of 1st January 2008 were highest in Slovenia at €539 a month.

In Croatia, the Czech Republic and Poland minimum monthly gross wages reach €300–€330.

In the Baltic states, Hungary and Slovakia they are in the range of €200–€270.

For Bulgaria and Romania minimum wages are less than €150.

Russia and Ukraine have the lowest minimum monthly wages at €60.


Statutory minimum gross monthly wages, CEE countries on January 1st 2008

Country Local currency Euro US dollar
Bulgaria 220 112 165
Croatia 2 441 330 485
Czech Republic 8 000 301 441
Estonia 4 350 278 409
Hungary 69 000 271 400
Latvia 160 228 335
Lithuania 700 203 296
Poland 1 126 312 456
Romania
500 138 203
Russia
2 300 64 94
Slovakia
8 100 240 353
Slovenia
539 539 792
Ukraine
515 68 100




Source: CE Research

The ratio of minimum to average wages is highest in Bulgaria at around 50% of the previous year’s level. For Central European and Baltic countries the proportion is in the range of 38–43%. Minimum wages are one third of average in Romania and Ukraine. In Russia minimum wages are 10% of the average, which reflects the different role played by the minimum wage in the economy.

Minimum monthly wages in Euro, CEE countries in 2002 and 2007