"In most EU countries there were significant increases in minimum wages on 1 January 2024. Despite persistently high inflation rates in the majority of member states, these were sufficient to maintain or even expand the purchasing power of the minimum wage. The dynamics of minimum wages have also been advantaged by the European Minimum Wage Directive, passed in autumn 2022. In the course of transposing the Directive, many member states have been striving to achieve the reference values of 60% of the median wage or 50% of the average wage. However, the trend in Germany was different: the country's Mindestlohnkommission (Minimum Wage Commission), against the votes of trade union members, only advocated a small increase in the minimum wage, and one which fell behind the rise in prices. In their approach and conclusions, the authors focus on the German aspect but this version of their original report slightly expands on that (see also the surrounding discussion) with the aim of widening the coverage and the consideration of its themes to the countries of south-east Europe."

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