January 16 (SeeNews) - Slovenia's labour minister, Anja Kopac Mrak, has proposed to increase the minimum monthly wage by 4.7% to 842.79 euro ($1,028.9) gross, or 638.42 euro net, the labour ministry said.
The current gross minimum monthly wage in Slovenia totals 804.96 euro, while the net minimum wage stands around 613.66 euro, the labour ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Kopac Mrak's proposal factors in inflation, wage growth rate, economic conditions and the country's economic growth forecast, the ministry noted.
Slovenia's central bank said last month it expects economic growth of a real 4.2% and 1.4% inflation in 2018. Slovenia switched to annual inflation of 1.4% in 2017, from 0.1% deflation in 2016, according to official data.
Under Slovenia law, the minimum wage for the year is determined by the labour minister after consulting trade unions and employers.
On Friday, the labour minister will present her proposal to the Economic and Social Council (ESC).
The ESC was established in June 1994 by social partners – employers' associations, trade unions and the government of Slovenia – when the wage policy agreement for the non-government sector was adopted. It is the highest-level body representing the social partners in Slovenia.
The minimum wage for 2018 should be known by the end of January.
($=0.819113 euro)