The Prime Minister’s unexpected announcement to unfreeze the three-year salary after 11 years changes the wage data for workers in the private sector.

The data, which is expected to be further clarified by the Ministry of Finance in the coming days, concerns private sector workers who are paid the minimum wage as well as workers who are paid in the context of a job with an active collective agreement that provides for a seniority bonus.

Regarding seniority, it is noted that this does not concern how long one has worked for the same employer, but for those who are paid the minimum wage, it concerns the entire working life, while for those who work under an active collective agreement that provides for seniority allowance, respectively how long they have been in the industry, regardless of whether they have changed employers.

According to the first unofficial calculations of the Ministry of Labor, we are talking about one million workers, potentially benefited, while labor experts who spoke to SKAI “lower the bar” to 600,000-800,000.

Practically, a three-year increase in salary by 10%, therefore:

  • 1 three years: €780 –>€856
  • 2 three years: €780 –> €936
  • 3 three years: €780 –> €1,014

It is noted that based on the Prime Minister’s announcements, the minimum wage will increase in April, which means that correspondingly the increases will be based on the new minimum wage.

As for new employees, i.e. those who started working after 14/2/2012, based on the data they will receive the first three years in 2027, while for the so-called “old employees”, i.e. those who worked before the aforementioned date, the years are counted seniority

The goal of the Ministry is for the regulation to reach Parliament on September 19 so that the vote can take place on September 28-29.