Serbia Begins 2027 Minimum Wage and Public Sector Pay Negotiations

Negotiations on the new minimum wage for 2027 officially opened on 15 August in Serbia, with the government, trade unions and employer representatives at the table. Prime Minister Đuro Macut and Finance Minister Siniša Mali stressed the need for a sustainable solution that supports wage growth while preserving economic competitiveness and macro‑economic stability.

Union vice‑president Dragan Todorović, speaking for the Alliance of Independent Unions of Serbia, said the talks will also address public‑sector salaries, warning that the minimum wage cannot rise faster than other wages without deepening wage compression and creating labor‑market problems. He added that unions will not disclose specific demands at this stage.

The previous round of talks resulted in a 9.4% extraordinary rise from 1 October 2025 and a further 10.1% increase effective 1 January 2026, bringing the hourly minimum wage to 371 dinars – a cumulative rise of about 37% (real terms 27.1%) over 2025‑2026. The finance ministry also raised the tax‑free allowance to keep the tax burden on low‑paid workers unchanged.