Last week the European statistics bureau Eurostat disclosed the rating of EU countries for the level of minimum wages of citizens. Immediately the statistics appeared variegated, interesting, but not unexpected. As known, the EU is a union of the countries of Old Europe, with new member-countries from the former socialist camp, which have been living a long transition period. So the difference between the high and low amount of the minimum wage in the EU is more than ten times.
For visibility, the experts of Eurostat divided all participants of the ranting into three categories - countries with high, medium and low minimum wages. The first category included the states that pay minimum wage of not less than €1,000. The list named Luxembourg (€1,642), Ireland (€1,462) and Belgium (€1,387). In these countries, it was banned to pay less than €1,642, €1,462 and €1,387 respectively.
The second category includes European countries with an average income, where the minimum wage is 500 to 1,000 EUR. The minimum wage varies around this amount in Portugal, Slovenia, Malta, Greece and Spain.
The European Union admitted new members - former Soviet Baltic republics, as well as the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia. Romania and Bulgaria complete the list of the European poor countries - the minimum wage in these countries is respectively €153 and €123. Thus, it appeared that Bulgarians earn the worst.
The minimum wage was established in 20 out of 27 EU countries. For example, the countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Cyprus have not established minimum wage.
The figure exists in Azerbaijan. The level of the minimum wage is the same for the whole country and is established by the government of the country according to the order of the President. From 1 September 2008, the minimum wage in Azerbaijan was established at 75 manats (€66.4). So, today nobody's labor in Azerbaijan can be paid below the established minimum wage. Because of its designation, the minimum wage is security and the lower limit of labor payment. But if in Azerbaijan this figure is the lower limit of remuneration, it is not in the role of the minimum and essential human needs. Appearing in the rating of the EU countries somehow, Azerbaijan would be in the end of the list, with the figure of €66.
Today the minimum wage in Azerbaijan makes up 25 percent of the average monthly salary. Whereas, under the terms of the European Social Charter, in countries that have ratified it, the minimum wage must make up at least 60 percent of the average monthly wage. After joining the Council of Council, Azerbaijan undertook obligations to follow the terms of the social security of citizens according to the Charter, which is the main tool for social protection in Council of Europe participating countries. If a couple of years ago, gradually raising the figure, it would be possible to reach European standards, but today the economists warn that in the current conditions, approximate earnings of the Azerbaijanis to the European standards is dangerous.
Notably, in the countries whose citizens receive the highest minimum, the work is less than in the states with more modest salaries. For the number of working hours per week, Romania is the leader (41.8 hours). It is trace by Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic (41.7 hours). In affluent countries, people do not over-work: France (38.4), Belgium (38.6) and Ireland (38.9).
According to the Labor Code of Azerbaijan, the normal working hours can not exceed 8 hours and normal working week can not be more than 40 hours. However, the expansion of the service sector and informal employment are the major sources of excessive working hours. The most significant differences in the length of time were recorded in the service sector.
This is wholesale and retail trade, hotel and restaurant business, transportation and warehousing services and communications services - anywhere it is required to work at any time of day. For example, in the wholesale and retail trade, working hours is 48 or more per week. With respect to the security companies - sectors with the highest duration of working time, work time is estimated at 72 hours per week.
But let us return to the minimum wage. If compared with EU countries, the salary is the most minimum in Azerbaijan, but compared with some European countries of CIS, Azerbaijan has a secondary evaluation. For example, in Ukraine from 1 July 2009 the minimum wage was increased to €50. In Russia the figure is €96, in Belarus - €57.