In a striking revelation from the latest Eurostat data, the Czech Republic finds itself trailing behind most European nations in minimum wage levels. At 20,800 Czech crowns monthly, the country ranks a disappointing 17th out of 22 EU countries with established minimum wages.
The contrast with Western European nations is particularly stark. Luxembourg leads the pack with a monthly minimum wage of 66,430 Czech crowns, while Germany offers 54,418 crowns. Even more telling is the comparison with neighboring countries – Poland now guarantees 27,474 crowns, marking a significant lead over the Czech Republic that began emerging in late 2022.
According to Creditas Bank’s chief economist Petr Dufek, this situation reflects a broader economic challenge. “The Czech Republic’s economic performance compared to Poland is somewhat embarrassing. Poland has managed to boost its economy and improve infrastructure in ways we can only dream about,” he notes.
While only about 120,000 Czech workers receive minimum wage, with some earning additional unofficial income, the impact extends far beyond this group. As sociologist Lucie Trlifajová from Charles University points out, minimum wage levels influence salary scales across the board.
Looking ahead, the Czech government has implemented changes, including an automatic mechanism to increase the minimum wage from the current 42.2% of the average wage to 47% by 2029.