MALI: Government to come out with a proposition on the minimum wage by the end of the next week

The Government of Serbia will come out with a proposition on the minimum wage for 2021 by the end of the next week, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali stated for Tanjug and added that a compromise would be sought that would satisfy both the workers and the employees in the current coronavirus crisis.

Mali emphasized that it was a matter of compromise. According to him, the trade unions are looking for the minimum wage to increase, whereas, on the other hand, the employers are seeking a solution that's realistic for them.

– Especially now, considering that we are in a big economic crisis, not just Serbia, but the global economy. That is why we have to be careful and smart. We are doing analyses, the Government of Serbia will come out with a proposition by the end of next week, and we will sit down with the employers and the unions to find a compromise – Mali said.

He adds that an increase of the minimum wage is perceived as an improvement of the living standard, but says that the employers' interests should be considered as well, as an excessive increase of the minimum wage can boost the shadow economy and layoffs.

– That is why it's so important to establish a balance. I have been dealing with this issue in the past two years and we have always managed to find a compromise, and I believe we will be able to do so again – Mali said.

He reminds that, last year, the minimum wage was increased by the largest absolute amount of RSD 3,000 and that it is now RSD 30,022.

Mali also reminded that the negotiations about the minimum wage for 2021 had already started and that the positions on both sides had been presented.

On Tuesday, August 25, members of the Social-Economic Council officially started these negotiations. The trade unions require the minimum wage to be equalized with the minimum consumer basket of RSD 37,500, whereas the employers want the minimum wage increase not to burden the economy.

The meeting was attended by negotiation teams of the Confederation of the Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia, UGS Nezavisnost, Serbian Association of Employers and ministries of labor and finance.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo finansija Republike Srbije

Socijalno-ekonomski savet Republike Srbije Beograd

Savez samostalnih sindikata Srbije

UGS Nezavisnost Beograd

Unija poslodavaca Srbije

Ministarstvo za rad, zapošljavanje, boračka i socijalna pitanja Republike Srbije

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Finance

Social Economic Council

Confederation of the Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia

UGS Nezavisnost

Serbian Association of Employers

Ministry of Labor

Sinisa Mali

minimum wage