In August, the minimum wage raised from CZK 8,000 (€310) to CZK 8,500 (€330). The minimum wage has been a hotly debate issue since trade unions started calling for an increase, that the then right wing government vehemently opposed. The new caretaker government that came into power just before the summer said maintaining purchasing power of the lowest paid workers was a priority and increased the minimum wage as one of its first actions in office. Roughly 3% of Czech workers earn the minimum wage and will see their wages increase due to the change. The minimum wage was raised in 2007 for the last time.
English: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2013/08/articles/cz1308019i.htm
For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) cbn-aias@uva.nl or the communications officer at the ETUI, Mariya Nikolova mnikolova@etui.org. For previous issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit http://www.etui.org/E-Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net.