Finance Minister Siniša Mali stated that the increase in the minimum wage must not be abrupt, as employers may not be able to comply. While unions are demanding a minimum wage of 70,000 dinars starting January 1, the government is offering 65,000. Mali emphasized the need to find a balance to avoid mass layoffs.
He confirmed that the minimum wage will rise to 500 euros (about 59,000 dinars) starting October 1 and expressed hope it will reach 550 euros (around 65,000 dinars) by January 1, 2026.
Mali also announced that the government will adopt a regulation to cap retail margins at 20 percent, leading to a price reduction of 10–20 percent on around 20,000 products starting September 1.
