The National Minimum Wage Council approved a 12% increase in the legal minimum wage for all sectors which is to be implemented in three stages, over a period of 18 months.
The agreement states that first increase of 4% will be on July 1, 2013, second increase of 4% on 1 January 2014 and the remaining 4% on 1 January 2015.
The minimum wages for agricultural workers is U.S. $ 117.57, for trade and services, U.S. $ 251.11, and for industry, U.S. $ 145.67.