Workplace Report (July 2007)

European news

Luxembourg tops minimum wage league

Figures published last month by Eurostat, the official statistical agency of the European Union (EU), show that Luxembourg is at the top of Europe’s minimum wage table, with Bulgaria rooted to the bottom.

The statistics relate to January 2007 and so do not take into account the latest increases in France (see this page). But most countries in the EU put their rates up in January, so for the most part the figures give an accurate picture of the current position.

Seven EU states – Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Cyprus and Sweden – do not have a national minimum wage, but some have other mechanisms to protect low-paid workers.

Country Monthly rate*
Luxembourg €1,570
Ireland €1,403
UK €1,361
Netherlands €1,301
Belgium €1,259
France €1,254
Greece ** €668
Spain €666
Malta €585
Slovenia €522
Portugal €470
Czech Republic €288
Hungary €258
Poland €246
Estonia €230
Slovakia €217
Lithuania €174
Latvia €172
Romania €114
Bulgaria €92

* As at 1 January 2007

** As at 1 July 2006

Source: Eurostat, Statistics in Focus: Minimum wages 2007


This information is copyright to the Labour Research Department (LRD) and may not be reproduced without the permission of the LRD.