How many workers will benefit from the minimum wage increase?

By March of this year, the total number of employees in the private sector was 265 thousand and 973 workers, where 7 thousand and 447 of them receive salaries of only 80 euros a month. And the gross wages for these total workers amounted to 120m and 563 thousand and 285 euros.

According to data from the Kosovo Tax Administration (ATK), the total number of employees in the sector, which receive salaries of between 80 and 250 euros, is 101 thousand and 390 workers.

On the other side, The ATK for the Economic Bulletin has said the number of employees in Kosovo, who receive salaries of 250 to 450 euros per month, is 77 thousand and 390 workers, while the number of those receiving salaries on the value of 450 euros is a total of 79 thousand and 785 workers.

Meanwhile, the Government's promise of raising the minimum wage to 250 euros from 130-170 euros as it currently stands would enable more than 108 thousand better and more dignified workers to assess from the private sector in the country.

However, business associations operating in Kosovo are expressing reservations about this decision and the impact this decision will have on businesses.

They say that some businesses will no doubt have a negative impact on the growth of the minimum wage to 250 euros because they have no potential to keep all workers at work with the new salary, while others say it will be invisible because wages are already higher.

The minimum wage in Kosovo since 2011 continues to be 130 euros for employees under the age of 35, and 170 euros for employees over 35.

Otherwise, the minimum wage increase in Kosovo has not occurred since 2011. By the Kosovo Alliance of Business say that under the law, there should be a minimum wage increase every year on the basis of the country's economic growth, even though from this institution explain that this has never happened in Kosovo due to political differences.