The Secretary of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS), Zoran Mihajlović, stated today that the recent increases in utility prices and various products may have already offset the planned minimum wage increase for 2025. He indicated that unions will closely monitor prices and may request another increase in the minimum wage as early as March next year.
“When we requested the minimum wage increase for 2025, we anticipated that price hikes would begin in September, particularly for school supplies and utilities. We will keep an eye on these price trends and may ask for a minimum wage adjustment by March,” Mihajlović told the Beta agency. He pointed out that the higher minimum wage will take effect in January, while increased bills will start in September.
“Those earning the minimum wage are likely already at ‘zero’ or possibly even in the ‘minus’ as rising prices have consumed that increase. This cycle continues, and drought conditions will likely exacerbate further price hikes,” he added.
The minimum wage for 2025 has been agreed upon by representatives of the Serbian government, trade unions, and employers at the Social and Economic Council, amounting to 53,592 dinars.
Government representatives compared this new minimum wage to the value of the minimum consumer basket in May, which was around 53,500 dinars, calling the alignment of these figures a “historic achievement.”
Initially, unions sought a 25 to 30 percent increase from this year’s minimum wage of 47,000 dinars, aiming for around 62,000 dinars. The Serbian government first proposed a nine percent increase before agreeing to a 13.7 percent rise.
