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.

* As at 1 January 2007

** As at 1 July 2006

Source: Eurostat, Statistics in Focus: Minimum wages 2007