The Slovak Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) has insisted on its proposal that the minimum wage from the beginning of next year must be raised by 8 percent. This would mean the gross minimum monthly wage would increase from the current level of €337.70 to €364.70.
“The net minimum wage, which is now €292, should be higher than the poverty threshold, which the European Union officially set at €315 for Slovakia,” said the KOZ Vice President Slavomír Manga. According to Manga, if Slovakia is to reach that threshold, the lowest wage for 2014 would have to be raised to the aforementioned €364.7. “Such a minimum wage increase will lead to higher unemployment and deepening poverty in Slovakia,” responded the Secretary of the National Association of Employers Martin Hostak for the SITA news agency. “The current situation in the labour market does not warrant any increase of the minimum wage,” he added.
