Low pay/minimum wages

Disability care workers in Ireland are facing pay shortfalls after publicly funded disability service providers failed to apply the latest national minimum wage increases to sleepover shifts. SIPTU has condemned the situation, which has left some workers more than 600 euros short in earnings for 2024. Sleepover shifts require workers to remain on-site overnight to provide essential care if needed. A 2014 Labour Court ruling established that these shifts constitute working time and must be paid at least the national minimum wage. While the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides funding to

The Slovenian government has adjusted the minimum wage by 1.9 percent, the legal minimum required to match inflation, despite unions calling for a larger increase. The new gross minimum wage, set at 1,277.72 euros, represents an increase of 23.82 euros, while the net wage will rise by approximately 27 euros due to income tax adjustments. The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) and several affiliated unions had called for a 3.5 percent increase, arguing that the government should consider additional factors such as productivity growth, labour market conditions, and the rise in

Spain’s government and unions UGT and CCOO have reached an agreement to raise the minimum wage by 4.41% in 2025, benefiting over 2 million workers. The increase sets the minimum wage at 16,576 euros gross per year, meaning workers will earn 1,184 euros gross per month if paid in 14 instalments or 1,381 euros gross per month if paid in 12. The increase will have the greatest impact in low-paid sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and commerce. It will also help reduce the gender pay gap, as women represent 57% of minimum wage earners in Spain. Young workers, temporary workers, and those in

French unions are preparing for another nationwide strike on 4 February 2025, following their massive mobilisation on 5 December 2024. The action, called by the inter-union coalition (CFTC, CGT, FO, FSU, STC, SUD) , highlights growing concerns over privatisation, precarious work, and low wages in the wake of the so-called "Full Employment" law. Since its implementation, the law has accelerated the outsourcing of public services and increased workloads. Workers at France Travail face mounting pressure, with the registration of 1.5 million additional people, rising unemployment, and growing

On January 11, a wage settlement was reached for private health and care workers in Norway, narrowing the pay gap with municipal and hospital workers. This agreement, negotiated with the Norwegian Confederation of Employers (NHO), ensures wage improvements for members of Fagforbundet , Delta , and FO . Key outcomes include a general wage supplement of NOK 7 per hour, equivalent to NOK 13,650 annually, effective May 1, 2024. Minimum wage rates will rise by NOK 31,175 to NOK 50,975 annually, aligning with the 5.2% framework established in broader wage settlements. Additional improvements include

On 15 January, members of the Trade Union of UPOZ , representing workers from several ministries and two state institutions, began a week of protests to demand a 30% salary increase. The protests coincided with government sessions, aiming to push officials to address long-standing wage disparities. Despite extensive negotiations and support from ministries, the Ministry of Finance refused to allocate funds for draft Collective Agreements before finalising the 2025 budget. Workers' salaries in the affected institutions start at 25,010 denars, with an average of 29,000 denars—well below the

The wage settlements for workers in Norway’s health, education, and culture (HUK) sector, organised under the Virke employers' association, have now been finalised. These agreements ensure that workers in private and non-profit organisations providing public services receive conditions comparable to those in the state and municipal sectors. Virke is a national employers' organisation representing private and non-profit businesses in trade, services, and public services such as health, education, and culture. The HUK sector specifically includes institutions like university colleges, museums

Workers at Northern Ireland Water and NI Water Alpha have ended their industrial dispute after accepting a pay offer that includes a 5% increase and a one-off payment of £1,500. The deal, covering the 2023-2024 fiscal year, aligns with pay awarded to other civil service workers. Unite and GMB unions warned that the agreement highlights deeper issues within NI Water. Despite the pay increase, many frontline workers remain on wages barely above the national minimum, including skilled trades and craft workers. This has led to recruitment and retention challenges, putting the maintenance of

On November 26, Lithuanian correctional workers staged a protest in Vilnius to demand urgent action on poor working conditions, understaffing, and low pay in correctional facilities. Organised by the Pre-Trial Investigation Institutions’ trade unions and supported by the Lithuanian Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (LTPF), the action highlighted systemic issues threatening workers’ rights and public safety. Union leaders criticised inadequate staffing levels, which increase workloads and heighten safety risks for correctional officers. Reports of violent incidents have surged, reflecting

Most EU member states have missed the November 15 deadline to transpose the minimum wage directive into national law, with some actively undermining its principles. The directive aims to ensure wages meet the cost of living and extend collective bargaining coverage, potentially lifting over 20 million workers’ pay. Research by the European Trade Union Institute shows the directive’s “double decency” threshold—60% of the median wage and 50% of the average wage—has already influenced wage-setting in some countries. However, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC ) warns that lack of action

The Estonian Employers' Confederation and the Estonian Trade Union Confederation have agreed to raise the minimum wage by 8% for 2025. Starting January, the minimum wage will increase by €66 to €886 per month, representing 43% of the average wage forecasted by the Central Bank of Estonia. This adjustment aims to reduce social inequality and alleviate wage poverty, supporting the livelihoods of workers across Estonia. While unions acknowledge the progress, they stress that the rise remains insufficient to cover the increasing cost of living and call for faster wage growth in the coming years to

On 25 November 2024, Hungary's government, employers, and trade unions signed an agreement on minimum wages for the years 2025–2027. This deal establishes significant increases for both the minimum wage and the guaranteed minimum wage over the next three years. The minimum wage will rise by 9% in 2025, followed by increases of 13% in 2026 and 14% in 2027, bringing it to HUF 290,800 next year. The guaranteed minimum wage will also increase by 7% in 2025. Projections suggest that the cumulative 40% increase in the minimum wage by 2027 will significantly enhance purchasing power while maintaining