In an interview with Luxembourg business magazine Paperjam, Labour Minister Marc Spautz said he would favour using the median income, rather than the average income, as the benchmark for a future recalculation of Luxembourg’s minimum wage in line with EU rules.
The relevant EU directive recommends that the minimum wage should correspond either to 50% of the average income or 60% of the median income.
The current unskilled minimum wage stands at €2,700 per month. According to Paperjam, using the median as a benchmark would place the minimum wage between €2,900 and €3,160.
If the average income were used as the reference, the figure would rise to €3,375. However, the matter is still to be discussed within the Government Council and with the social partners, according to Spautz.
Employers’ representatives have stated that the minimum wage must not increase under any circumstances, while the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) is calling for a 10% rise.
