The Council of Ministers adopted a regulation on the amount of the minimum salary for work and the minimum hourly rate in 2023.

An increase in the minimum salary will ensure financial security for Poles, we will not allow a situation where the salary is not enough to satisfy basic needs. The increase is our response to the expectations of employees, in this way we respond to inflation caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine – says the Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.

As from 1 January 2023, the minimum salary will increase to PLN 3,490, and as from 1 July – to PLN 3,600. Next July, the minimum salary will be by PLN 590 higher than the minimum salary for work this year.

At the same time, the minimum hourly rate in 2023 will increase to PLN 22.80 from 1 January and to PLN 23.50 from 1 July, respectively. Next July, the rate will be by PLN 3.80 higher than that in 2022.

Protection of employees

The minimum salary plays a major role in reducing poverty and income inequality and protects employees from working at lower wages. As the Head of the Ministry of Family points out, such a significant increase in the minimum salary is also required to protect the poorer classes of society from incurring a disproportionately inflated cost of the difficult economic situation in which Poland and Europe found themselves due to the war caused by Russia in neighbouring Ukraine.

Salaries will be higher than originally proposed

The amounts indicated in the regulation of the Council of Ministers are higher than the original proposals. Previously, we proposed that the minimum salary should increase – after two increases – to PLN 3,450, i.e. by PLN 440 when compared to the current year. The situation is similar in the case of the minimum hourly salary, which finally in 2023 was to stand at 22.50 – highlights Minister Marlena Maląg.

As a result, from January 2023, the minimum salary for work will constitute 50.3% of the predicted average salary in the national economy for 2023, and from July 2023 – 51.9%.

As from July 2023, the minimum salary will be higher by 19.6% when compared to the lowest salary, which is applicable in 2022. In turn, when compared to 2015, the minimum salary will increase by 105.7%. In 2015, it amounted to PLN 1,750 – enumerates the Head of the Ministry of Family.

Minimum salary in 2023 will double

Pursuant to the Act on the minimum salary for work, if the total consumer price index predicted for the next year is at least 105% – two deadlines are set for changing the amount of the minimum salary and the amount of the minimum hourly rate: as from 1 January 1 and as from 1 July.