The increase to €920 per month triggers higher payments for multiple allowances, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers in both the private and public sectors

In purchasing power terms, Greece's minimum wage ranks 13th across the bloc—highlighting that the issue is not merely the nominal level, but how wages are distributed across the economy.

The wage increase lifts nominal pay for 700,000 workers, but faster-rising energy, housing and food costs, weak purchasing power and pressure on businesses mean much of the gain is quickly absorbed, limiting its impact on real incomes.

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A €40 monthly boost linked to the new minimum wage will raise earnings for public employees, with total income gains further supported by earlier tax cuts and salary adjustments.

Deputy Minister of Labour Kostas Karagkounis stated that starting April 1, Greece will be raising the minimum wage above 880€ with the exact figure to be formally proposed to Cabinet by Labour Minister Niki Kerameus on March 24

Geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs are reshaping Greece’s wage debate as the government considers a smaller increase to the minimum wage, while a new sector-wide labor agreement signals a potential revival of collective bargaining.

With a new increase set for April 1, 2026, most institutions back a moderate rise that would lift the gross monthly minimum wage to about 915 euros, as the government keeps its sights on 950 euros by 2027.

Eurostat data show Greece’s labor costs rising far faster than productivity, creating competitiveness challenges

Following the fifth increase in the statutory minimum wage since 2022, the monthly minimum rose to €1,027 as of April.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece’s minimum wage will increase to 880 euros starting on April 1, 2025. 

The new gross monthly minimum wage is expected to rise by 5% to 6%, reaching approximately €880, in a country where almost half of employees make less than €1,000 per month.

The minister highlighted that for the first time these adjustments will include minimum wages of employees in the public sector, while there is a legislative ban on reducing minimum wages.

The lack of collective labor agreements poses an additional challenge in shaping the new average salary.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke during Parliament debate on a draft bill dealing with the minimum monthly wage rate, which was later ratified by a majority of deputies, 157 out of 300

Minimum wage and collective bargaining rights are being debated on the floor of the Greek parliament today as the New Democracy’s bill new bill goes to a vote

The Greek Premier stated the new system would prohibit any reduction of the minimum wage by law.

For the first time, the adjustment system will include employees from the public sector, leading to a corresponding increase in their minimum wage

Calculations show that the real wage as of September 2024 is 693 euros, meaning the actual minimum wage has yet to reach 700 euros.

According to the findings of a scientific committee, the increase in the minimum wage will be determined by four indicators