Lithuanian cabinet approves minimum wage rise to EUR 730

VILNIUS – The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved a proposal to raise the minimum monthly wage before tax by 88 euros, or almost 14 percent, to 730 euros from January 1, 2022. 

The minimum wage after tax will increase to 518 euros, and the minimum hourly wage will rise from 3.93 euros to 4.47 euros. 

Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene has said that it would be one of the most significant minimum wage increases in a decade.

Economists at the central Bank of Lithuania estimate that the proposed 13.7 percent increase in the minimum wage would result in average wages rising by around 1.5 points faster in 2022.  

Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste has said that now is a good time to raise the minimum wage, given the country's good economic situation, favorable forecasts for next year and good budget revenue collection. 

The Lithuanian Labor Code allows paying the minimum wage only for unskilled labor.