Plenković: Average salary to reach 1600 euros by end of term

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced an ambitious goal to reach an average salary of 1600 euros by the end of his third term. He noted that the average salary has already surpassed 1550 euros, expressing confidence that this target will be achieved through rational planning.

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Our ambition is that the average salary will be 1600 euros at the end of the third term. We are already over 1550 euros, we are moving towards that goal and it will be achieved without a doubt, which means we are planning rationally.

The government is set to hold consultations with employers and trade unions in October to determine the level of the minimum wage, which currently stands at 1050 euros gross. Plenković emphasized the government's consistent effort to raise the minimum wage, aiming to balance this with the sustainability of employers, particularly in sectors where employees earn the minimum wage.

Over the last decade, Plenković highlighted substantial wage growth, with the minimum wage increasing by 134 percent and both average and median wages rising by over 100 percent. The government is prepared to implement compensatory measures, using state transfers to subsidize minimum wage increases for a limited period, providing employers with adequate time to adjust financially.

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We have always strived to raise the minimum wage, more than all governments before us, and, on the other hand, we took care that it is sustainable for employers in those sectors where, unfortunately, there are people working for the minimum wage.

In addition to wage developments, Plenković expressed satisfaction with the current tourism season, reporting that it is performing better than the previous year. He cited positive indicators from fiscalization and overall turnover, confirming Croatia's continued competitiveness in the tourism sector.

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The first seven months are in the plus, the season is better than last year's, which is seen from fiscalization, from turnover.