In 2027, the minimum wage in Slovakia will increase to 972 euros. This decision was made after social partners (social partners) failed to reach an agreement, and now the minimum wage will approach the symbolic mark of 1000 euros. In addition, bonuses for night and weekend work will also increase, as they are tied to the minimum wage amount.
How is the minimum wage calculated and who does it concern?
According to the law, the minimum wage is set at 60% of the average nominal wage from two years prior. According to the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the average nominal wage in 2025 was 1620 euros.
The Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Family, Erik Tomáš, reported that about 120,000 workers receive the basic minimum wage. Considering all six levels of minimum wage, which depend on job complexity, in 2026 this will concern approximately 160,000 people.
The ministry also presented a qualified forecast for the minimum wage in 2028, which, according to Tomáš, should exceed 1000 euros and may rise to 1016 euros.
Impact on the state budget and employers' objections
The increase in the minimum wage will cause some fixed salaries of state and public employees to fall below the minimum wage level. To solve this problem, it was decided to create a working group that will deal with the new adjustment of salaries in the state and public sectors. However, the minister expects a significant impact of these changes on the state budget.
Employers expressed disagreement with the formula for increasing the minimum wage in case of no agreement, as it is not tied to the key parameter of labor productivity. The president of the Association of Employers' Unions and Associations (AZZZ) of the Slovak Republic, Rastislav Mahunka, noted that because of this, they do not agree with increasing the minimum wage to 972 euros for 2027.
Mahunka emphasized that the minimum wage has a significant impact on increasing bonuses, which in Slovakia are much higher than, for example, in the neighboring Czech Republic. In his opinion, this worsens competitiveness. AZZZ proposed discussing the adjustment of the automatic mechanism so that it better reflects the economic reality of the business environment, labor productivity development, and the overall wage level.
Position of trade unions
The president of the Confederation of Trade Unions, Monika Ulerová, positively assessed that the automatic mechanism, in case of no agreement between social partners (social partners), guarantees a predictable minimum wage amount calculated based on the average wage.
She noted that trade unions have long insisted on including in the law an automatic mechanism that sets the minimum wage at least 60% of the average. Ulerová also mentioned the European Union Directive on adequate minimum wages, which contains recommendations on the minimum wage amount and the adjustment of the automatic mechanism.
Based on international calculations of decent minimum wages for individual countries, Ulerová believes that in Slovakia a decent minimum wage should be at least 1344 euros.
Source: interez.sk
