Is the Minimum Wage in Latvia Really EUR 914.93?
Is the Minimum Wage in Latvia Really EUR 914.93?
A recent article published on Diena.lv has drawn attention to a common misunderstanding regarding Latvia’s minimum wage — is it really EUR 914.93 per month? In reality, this figure reflects the average gross earnings of employees receiving minimum wage, including bonuses, overtime, and other additional payments.
As of January 1, 2025, under the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 656, the official statutory minimum monthly wage in Latvia is EUR 740 before taxes.
The article provides an in-depth explanation of how such discrepancies in interpretation arise and why it is essential to distinguish between the legally defined minimum wage and the actual income levels received in practice. It also offers a comparison of Latvia’s minimum wage with that of other EU countries, placing it in a broader economic context.
We invite you to read the full article on Diena.lv, which also features insights from BDO Latvia Partner Jānis Zelmenis, who contributed his professional perspective on the topic.