Minimum wage in Latvia rises to EUR 620

RIGA - This year, the minimum wage in Latvia has been raised from EUR 500 to EUR 620 per month.

The Saeima approved the increase on October 27, 2022 by passing amendments the Labor Law. The amended law also provides for further raising the minimum monthly wage to EUR 700 in 2024.

The government approved the minimum wage increase on December 13. 

According to the Central Statistical Bureau's data for 2021, of Latvia's 837,444 employees, 149,173 people were paid the minimum wage or less. In 2020, the number of employees earning the minimum wage of less was down to 140,230, but in 2019 the minimum wage or less was paid to 152,666 employees. 

Earlier, Welfare Ministry parliamentary secretary Evita Zalite-Grosa (Conservatives) indicated that the need to increase the minimum wage faster had been debated for years but that the National Tripartite Cooperation Council had been unable to come to an agreement.