PM wants to gradually raise minimum wage

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says he wants to gradually increase the minimum wage so as to give people incentive to find employment rather than staying on the dole. Mr. Sobotka said he would be in favour of raising the minimum wage, which is presently 8,500 crowns, by about 500 crowns a year in view of hiking it to over 10,000 by the end of his government’s term in office. Mr. Sobotka pointed out that the fact that the minimum wage had not been raised in six years was highly demotivating. He said the hikes would naturally be consulted in advance with trade unions and employers.