Trade unions want higher minimum wage

Prague, March 3 (CTK) - Czech trade unions would like the monthly minimum wage to go up in the country and the Labour Ministry's proposal of a 600-crown increase is acceptable for them, CMKOS umbrella union leader Jaroslav Zavadil told Czech Television (CT) during a political discussion programme Sunday.

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) said he resolutely opposes this.

Zavadil said the unions would negotiate with the Labour Ministry about the minimum wage.

The minimum wage has not been increased since January 2007.

In December 2011 the government discussed a possible increase from the current 8000 crowns to 8400 or 8500 crowns, but it did not approve it, arguing that the development of the Czech economy was unclear.

Last week, the unions submitted the demand that the minimum wage be raised to 9000 crowns to the lower house of parliament.

Union leader Bohumir Dufek said the unionists also demand that the minimum wage be raised every year at least by half of the last year's inflation.

According to previous estimates of the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry, the minimum wage concerns about 100,000 employees in the Czech Republic.

The average monthly salary in the country was 24,514 crowns in the third quarter of 2012.