The start of the procedure to determine the new increase in the minimum wage begins immediately. In this context, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is already working on the amendment, which defines the timetable, which will be followed, until the recommendation of the competent minister, Domna Michailidou , to the cabinet for determining the minimum wage of employees and the minimum daily wage of artisans.

The goal is for the consultations to “run”, so that the new minimum wage to be applied from the current year to workers in the tourism industry.

Based on what the legislation stipulates, initially, a written invitation will be sent by the Coordinating Committee of the consultation to the specialized scientific and research bodies for the drafting of a report for the evaluation of the current statutory minimum wage and the drafting and submission of the report will take place.

The next stage is the transmission of the memorandum and documentation of each person consulted by the Coordination Committee to the other representatives of the social partners, with an invitation for oral consultation.

Subsequently, all the memoranda and documentation of the consulted, as well as the report of the bodies, are sent to the Planning and Economic Research Center (KEPE) for the drafting of the draft consultation conclusion.

Finally, the recommendation of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs is submitted to the Cabinet for the determination of the minimum wage of employees and the minimum daily wage of artisans.

An opinion on the final amount that will “lock” its rate of increase is the strengthening of the income of the workers and the safeguarding of the competitiveness of the Greek economy. In this direction, the suggestions of the social partners and scientific bodies, which will be submitted in the context of the relevant consultation, will be taken into account, the endurance of the economy, but also the needs of the workers.

Today, the minimum wage is 780 euros and the minimum daily wage at 34.84 euros, while the previous period was preceded by other increases. Specifically, from 650 euros in 2019, the minimum wage increased to 663 euros in January 2022, to 713 euros in May 2022 and, from April 2023, to 780 euros.

The aim of the government is, within a four-year horizon, for the minimum wage to rise to 950 euros and the average wage to 1,500 euros.

At the same time, employees in the private sector also benefit from the “unfreezing” of the three years, without retroactive effect for the period from February 14, 2012 to December 31, 2023.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the decision to restore the increase of the statutory minimum wage with seniority allowance (three years) for both employees and artisans, from January 1, 2024, protects the rights of workers in the private sector and accelerates the their salary evolution, taking into account at the same time the competitiveness of the Greek economy and the viability of private businesses in Greece.