
The acting government of Kosovo approved on Friday the increase in the minimum wage, which will reach 500 euros by July 2026.
The minimum wage, which is 350 euros, will increase in two stages, initially to 425 euros in January, while in July it will become 500 euros per month for all full-time workers.
Acting Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, said at the acting Government meeting that this increase comes after "the analyses we have conducted regarding the impact it may have on the private sector, on enterprises, but also on employees."
This increase affects around 150,000 employees in the private sector, according to Murat.
"After the discussions we have had and the proposals and suggestions we have received from representatives of unions and businesses, our proposal is that the minimum wage for next year be 500 euros, or specifically 3 euros per working hour," he added.
Until the new Law came into force in 2023, the minimum wage in Kosovo was 130 euros for workers under 35 years of age and 170 euros for workers up to 65 years of age.
It increased to 350 euros in the summer of 350.
Kosovo has so far had the lowest minimum wage in Europe, 350 euros, while Luxembourg has the highest, 2,571 euros. /REL