Increasing the minimum wage: Of the former republics of the SFRY, Serbia is only better than North Macedonia

That Slovenia was the most developed member of the SFRY is nothing new, and the data on life and earnings in that country, 34 years after it left the federation, show that they are still doing the best.

The minimum Slovenes are 400 euros higher than their former compatriots in Serbia, and two and a half times higher than the minimum wage in North Macedonia.

How well are we doing compared to our former compatriots?

Minimal earnings in Serbia this year is extraordinary increase and from October it amounts to EUR 500a.

In addition to this extraordinary increase from 475 euros to 500, from January next year the minimum wage will be 551 euros, the Ministry of Finance agreed with unions and employers.

Thus, those who earn the minimum in 2026 will have 64.554 dinars per month on their pay slip and in their wallet.

According to official data, around 90.000 people will receive the minimum wage in Serbia in 2025.

How is it in other countries of the region?

The former republic of the SFRY, which first left the union and then became the first member of the European Union, pays the most workers on the minimum wage compared to other former compatriots.

Thus, employees on minimum wage in Slovenia they receive between 900 and 930 euros.

It follows Croatia, today also a member of the EU, whose Government decided in October 2024 that the net minimum wage in 2025 will amount to 750 euros.

U Montenegro the minimum depends on education. Thus, employees on the minimum wage with lower and secondary education earn 600 euros, while those with higher education earn 800 euros on the minimum wage.

U Bosnia and Herzegovina it all depends on the entity. Thus, according to the decision of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, employees on the minimum wage receive about 1.000 convertible marks per month, which is about 511 euros.

U Republic of Srpska, the minimum is slightly lower, around 460 euros.

Minimum wage workers in North Macedonia according to the latest available data, they have about 390 euros, and the lowest minimum wage in Kosovo is 350 euros.