I must think of all people – Lithuania’s PM on bigger minimum wage

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius says that only small scale businessmen objected to the plan of raising minimum monthly wage (MMW), but he says that he must think of all people of Lithuania.

"I have heard reproaches only from small scale businessmen, but I have to think of all people in the country. Others, meanwhile, say that people emigrate from Lithuania because their wages in the country sometimes are smaller than heating bills in winter," he said in an interview to the national radio today, adding that it was a hot topic.

As reported, from Jan.1 MMW in Lithuania seeks 1,000litas(290euros).

The new Government, headed by Social Democrat leader Butkevicius agreed on the proposal on Dec.19. In addition to that, a minimum hourly wage from 2013 stands at 6.06litas.

It is estimated that the MMW raise will concern around 200,000 employees, among them - 50,000 employees in budgetary institutions.