Tomorrow, December 19th, during the new session of the Labour Advisory Council, it is expected that the situation regarding the increase of the National Minimum Wage will be fully clarified, in anticipation of the government's final decisions. As mentioned on Friday by the Minister of Labour, Yiannis Panagiotou, these decisions will be announced within this week.

As Brief reports, during yesterday's session of the Labour Advisory Council, there was no substantial discussion on the National Minimum Wage, nor on specific amounts. Each side presented its positions, which had already been submitted to the Minister of Labour for consideration.

In his statements after the session, the Minister of Labour, when asked, emphasized that the differences between employers' and trade unions' organizations regarding the increase in the National Minimum Wage are not very large, stressing that "the differences are not so significant as to create an impression of chaos."

However, according to information from Brief, it appears that the trade unions have made it clear to all parties that any amount below 1,000 euros for a minimum wage after six months of employment with the same employer is not considered an increase, given that the median wage in Cyprus increased in 2023 to 1,701 euros.

Essentially, the trade unions strongly advocate the European directive regarding adequate wages, especially the provision that the minimum wage should amount to 60% of the median wage.

Given that the median wage in Cyprus is 1,701 euros, according to the trade unions' stance, the National Minimum Wage should reach up to 1,020 euros. This is a figure that the employers' organizations strongly disagree with, as it would imply a significant increase in labor costs for businesses.

Asked about this, the Minister of Labour in his recent statements indicated that "the relationship of the National Minimum Wage to the median wage is a very important element, which also emerges from the relevant European directive on adequate wages."

He added, "Yes, it is an important reference point in the framework of substantiating the decisions to which we will have concluded by next week," noting that the Government, after the session of the Labour Advisory Council this Tuesday, will evaluate all the data and announce its decisions, without revealing whether the European directive will form the main basis for the government's decisions.

According to the Minister of Labour, about 20,000 to 25,000 employees will be affected by the revision of the National Minimum Wage from 1st January.

It is reminded that, currently, the gross National Minimum Wage is 885 euros for initial employment and rises to 940 euros after six months of continuous employment with the same employer.