Minister of Labor on changes in the minimum wage. It indicates a certain absurdity

Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister of Family, Labor and Politics, spoke today on Radio Zet about changes in the minimum wage. By November this year, Poland is obliged to implement the directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU.

The minimum wage law is getting closer

– We are obliged to implement the EU directive on minimum wages in the European Union. The act is basically ready, we still have the final touches. We will introduce a specific rule as to what percentage of the average salary the minimum wage should constitute. But we don't stop there – said the head of the Ministry of Labor in the program “Guest of Radio Zet”.

The minister announced that one more proposal would be submitted as part of the bill to “end a certain absurdity.” – Today, the minimum wage does not equal the basic wage. The basic salary often consists of the minimum wage and a bonus, allowance, or some functional allowances are added in order to reach the minimum wage ceiling. In our opinion, the minimum wage should mean the basic wage, and bonuses and allowances are bonuses that should be added to it – Dziemianowicz-Bąk emphasized.

The head of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy announced that she would submit a proposal to the government on this matter.

The EU directive provides for the obligation to take into account 4 mandatory criteria when establishing or updating the minimum wage:

• purchasing power of the statutory minimum wages, taking into account the cost of living

• the overall level of remuneration and its distribution

• wage growth rates

• long-term national productivity levels and their changes.

Member States will be obliged to assess the adequacy of the minimum wage. For this purpose, they will have to choose at least one indicative reference value at international or national level, e.g. 60%. median gross wages and 50 percent average gross salary).

The minimum wage will increase soon

Currently, the Ministry of Labor determines the minimum wage by regulation, taking into account the inflation forecast in the budget for next year. The minimum wage must increase by at least this rate. If the forecast inflation exceeds 5%, the salary must be increased twice a year. This is exactly what has happened in the last two years. In January this year, the minimum wage increased to PLN 4,242 gross. In July there will be an increase to PLN 4,300 gross.