Gov't tables proposal to raise minimum salary to PLN 2,000 minimum

The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday a proposal to raise minimum monthly salary to PLN 2,000 in 2017, a hike of 8.1 percent from PLN 1,850 in 2017. The proposition is higher than the Labor Ministry had opted for and it also surprised unions, which agitated for raising minimum salary to PLN 1,970 in 2017. "Driven by the responsibility for the state budget, the finance situation and the fate of Polish citizens, thinking about the dignity of Polish citizens, the government has decided that next year the minimum salary will amount to  PLN 2,000," said Prime Minister Beata Szydło. Labor Minister Elżbieta Rafalska expressed her satisfaction that the proposed sum is higher than she hoped for. "Raising minimum salary is a very good news for Poles," she said. Now the project will go to the Social Dialogue Council, consisting of representatives of unions and employers' associations. Should they fail to work out a compromise, the governmental proposal will go through. Meanwhile, Rafalska said that Poland is considering introducing minimum hourly wage at PLN 13, and not PLN 12 as it was earlier said.