Minimum wage, from January 1st there will be no more salaries below 50 thousand lek, 308 thousand beneficiaries
The government's decision to increase the minimum wage came into effect yesterday. Based on its basis, from 40 thousand lek, the minimum wage in the country will be 50 thousand lek from January 1, 2026. This decision will affect 307 thousand and 850 employees registered in the public and private sectors. According to the government's decision for the first 9 months of the implementation of the minimum wage, the increased cost of social and health insurance will not be paid by business but by the state. Therefore, a fund of 1 billion lek has been designated in the state budget to compensate for employer contributions as a result of the increase in the minimum wage.
Increasing the minimum wage helps reduce informality in the labor market and strengthen respect for legal contracts.
In recent years, the minimum wage has followed a steady upward trend, in response to the rising cost of living and the need to strengthen social welfare.
From 24 thousand lekë in 2017, through continuous increases over the years, the minimum wage doubles to 50 thousand lekë in 2026, marking a significant improvement compared to previous years. The government's medium-term forecast is to increase the minimum wage to 60 thousand lekë in 2028.
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