The minimum wage in Kosovo from now on will be EUR 250. The government has approved Wednesday a draft law that sets the minimum wage at the level of EUR 250 net or EUR 264 gross. 

Actually Kosovo has a minimum wage of EUR 170 for those over 35 and EUR 130 under 35 and has not changed since 2011. With the last decision, working hours will be worth EUR 1.5. 

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that from the last decision of his government will benefit 100.000 workers. 

"About 100.000 workers will benefit from the increase of the minimum wage", said Kurti, while adding that the increase of the minimum wage has been a goal of his government. 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati said that with the approval of this draft law, the salaries of low-wage workers will increase. 

"The draft law in question aims to supplement and amend the laws related to the amount of benefits or compensations in the minimum wage and to change the tax rate on personal income and change the procedure for setting the minimum wage. With the approval of this draft law, the minimum wage will only serve to increase the salary of low-wage workers", said Murati. 

According to this increase, says Murati, workers will be paid 1.5 euros for 1 hour of work. 

"The approval of this draft law in the Government and in the Assembly paves the way for the Government to make a decision to increase the minimum wage by 264 euros gross or translated into hours, 1.5 euros per hour." 

In the reasoning of the proposal, the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, has announced that the laws related to the minimum wage will have to be changed. 

The change of the tax rate has been approved, which provides that all salaries are not taxed in the first 250 euros. After the approval of this draft law in the Government, the same must be approved in the Assembly of Kosovo. 

According to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, the first reading of a draft law can not be done without two working weeks, nor later than four working weeks, from the day of its distribution. 

After that, the law is returned to the parliamentary committees for review, and then the reports with recommendations for the draft law in question are sent to the Assembly within two months from the first reading, or five working days before the second reading in the plenary session. 

The Government of Kosovo has also approved the budget review, arguing that it is deemed necessary in order to provide assistance to citizens. 

According to the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, the only change will be made in the ministry he leads. According to him, there has been a change in the revenue trend, with an increase of about 17 percent compared to the same quarter last year. 

The minimum wage in Kosovo is 170 euros for people over 35 and 130 euros under 35 and has not changed since 2011, which is the lowest in Europe.

Source: Monitor