In 2018, the minimum wage amounted to PLN 2,100, and the minimum hourly rate to PLN 13.70. – I am pleased that with the new year, the minimum wage increases to PLN 2,250 and the minimum hourly rate to PLN 14.70. It is by PLN 150 more than in the previous year and by PLN 500 more in comparison with the year 2015 – underlines the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, Elżbieta Rafalska.

As of 1 January 2019 the minimum wage increases by 7.1 percent and constitutes 47.2 percent of the forecasted remuneration in the national economy for the year 2019. – We observe economic growth, therefore, the remunerations increase. An increase in the minimum wage higher than in the recent two years will allow maintaining the relation of the minimum wage to the average one – underlines the Minister, Elżbieta Rafalska.

– In some environments, it has been argued that the minimum wage increases so that some of the persons earning the least lose the right to the benefit within the “Family 500+” programme. I would like to decidedly deny this information and calm – no one will lose the right to the benefit due to the increase in the minimum wage. In order not to allow this in the future, we consider increasing the income criterion in the next year – explains the Head of the Ministry of Family.

In December, public consultations focused on the bill assuming exclusion of the so-called seniority allowance from the minimum wage assessment basis. – Nowadays, the seniority allowance is a fiction, and a government employee with 20 years of experience earns the same national minimum wage as the employee who just starts working. We want the seniority allowance, that is, in case of the minimum wage approx. PLN 200, to be included in the remuneration. In our opinion, it is a just solution – underlines the Minister, Elżbieta Rafalska. The proposed solution would enter into force as of 1 January 2020.