Greece was placed among the last positions of the list of EU countries with high and medium growth in terms of gross earnings (gross wages and employer contributions). More specifically, the real minimum wage in Greece fell by 23.9% in 2013.
During the period 2010-2012 the national minimum wage increased in seven countries: Slovenia (20.9%), Hungary (13.1%), Bulgaria (7%), Poland (6.2%), Latvia (5.5%), Slovakia (1.5%), Romania (0.5%).
In other EU countries the minimum wage dropped either due to decrease in nominal minimum wages or due to high inflation. The most typical examples of decrease in minimum wage are: Lithuania (-8%), Latvia (-7.3%), Czech (-6.5%), Spain (-4.6%), UK (-4.6%), Belgium (-3.3%).
The vast majority of EU countries have established a national minimum wage, except for Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Cyprus. In Greece the national minimum wage is 586.08 euros while in Europe the national minimum wage is formed as follows: Czech Republic (312 euros), Belgium (1,472 euros), Bulgaria (148 euros), Estonia (290 euros), Ireland (1,462 euros), Spain (748 euros), France (1,426 euros), Latvia (287 euros), Lithuania (232 euros), Luxembourg (1,801 euros), Hungary (323 euros), Malta (680 euros), Poland (353 euros), Portugal (566 euros), Romania (157 euros), Slovenia (763 euros), Slovakia (327 euros), United Kingdom (1,244 euros), Netherlands (1,456 euros).
The Greek Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis claims that the current minimum wage will be maintained until 2016, while the Labour Institute of the Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) estimates that in 2017 the minimum wage will be lower than the current one.
In Greece, young employees under 25 receive 510.95 euros, which is lower than the minimum wage.
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