The Greek government has set an ambitious target to raise the gross minimum wage to €950 by April 2027, up from the current €920, while aiming for an average private sector wage of €1,500.
The announcement comes as real wages continue to face significant pressure from rising living costs, with many workers still earning less in real terms than before the financial crisis.
Minimum Wage and Seniority Increases
The minimum wage was last increased to €920 in April 2026 (a 4.55% rise). From January 2027, the reintroduction of seniority-based pay steps will add further increases. For a worker hired on 1 January 2024, this will mean an automatic €92 increase, bringing their minimum wage to €1,012.
Challenges for Average Wages
Reaching the €1,500 average private sector wage target (up from €1,362 gross in 2025) is considered a difficult goal. Economists note that private sector wage growth will need to significantly outpace inflation over the coming year to make meaningful progress.
A key government strategy is the strengthening of collective bargaining agreements, with the aim of increasing coverage from the current ~30% to 80%. Over 400,000 workers are already covered by new agreements in sectors such as tourism, food service, confectionery, and bakery.
Current Reality
Despite nominal wage increases, real wages remain under strain:
- The average real annual wage rose by just 0.3% between 2019 and 2025.
- In key sectors such as education, public health, social care, food service, and retail, real hourly wages are still below 2009 levels.
- Greek workers’ purchasing power stands at only 68% of the European Union average.
The government hopes that stronger collective bargaining and targeted wage policies will help bridge the gap between nominal growth and actual living standards.