The new minimum wage is set at 780 euros, as announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his meeting with Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.

Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that this is an increase of 9.4% and noted that it is at the maximum margin of the country’s capabilities.

The prime minister noted that the increase “declares our will to upgrade wages. The dividend of development must be reaped fairly by all”.

He pointed out that since 2019, when the minimum was 650 euros, “almost three additional salaries have been added annually to the income of approximately 600,000 workers”.

The new increase will obviously drag down unemployment benefits and all benefits related to the minimum wage, added Mr. Mitsotakis.

“I know and we know that in our country wages are still low, while they are further squeezed by imported inflation. It’s something I hear all the time, especially from young people, who are struggling to make ends meet.

This increase obviously does not solve the problem, but it certainly offers a very important relief and above all it indicates our intention to upgrade salaries both in the public and in the private sector.

The final amount agreed upon is at the upper limit of our capabilities. However, it is within the capabilities of businesses. I want to remind you how much they were supported by the Greek government during the pandemic.

At the same time, the national economy remains on a strong growth momentum, unemployment is steadily falling, taxes are still being reduced and now is therefore the time to support workers with yet another increase in the basic wage. The dividend of development must be reaped fairly by all”, concluded the Prime Minister.

The position of the prime minister

“Good morning, today the Government is proceeding with the third consecutive increase in the minimum wage, by 9.4%.

So from April 1, it will reach 780 euros from the 650 euros – I remember – that was in 2019. Which means that since then almost three additional salaries have been added annually to the income of approximately 600,000 workers.

The new increase will obviously take with it unemployment benefits and all the benefits associated with the minimum wage. The Minister of Labor will talk about all this in detail shortly.

I have no illusions. I know, we know that in our country wages are still low, and they are further squeezed by imported inflation. It’s something I hear all the time, especially from young people who are struggling to make ends meet.

This new increase obviously does not solve the problem. Certainly, however, it offers a very important relief and mainly declares our intention to upgrade salaries, both in the Public and Private sectors.

I want to emphasize that the final amount that has been agreed is at the upper limit of our possibilities. It is, however, within the capabilities of the businesses that – I want to remind – were so supported by the Greek Government during the pandemic.

At the same time, the national economy remains in a strong growth dynamic, unemployment is steadily declining, taxes are still being reduced. Now is therefore the time to support workers with a brave increase in the basic wage, because the dividend of growth must be reaped fairly by all.”

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of State Akis Skertsos, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Yiannis Bratakos, the General Secretary of Labor Relations Anna Stratinaki, the Head of the Economic Office of the Prime Minister Alexis Patelis, the Director of the Press Office of Prime Minister Dimitris Tsiodras and the Prime Minister’s Communications Director Kyra Kapi.