Minimum wage increased in Czech Republic from January 1, 2025

Increase of minimum wage in the Czech Republic 2025

The Czech Republic increases the national minimum monthly wage from January 1, 2025 by CZK 1,900 (approx. EUR 76, depending on the exchange rate) to CZK 20,800 (approx. EUR 832), which represents an increase of approximately 10.05% compared to the 2024 minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage rate is set at CZK 124.40 (for a standard 40-hour week). This minimum wage is determined by the amended Labour Code (Act No. 262/2006 Coll., as amended by Act No. 230/2024 Sb.) and announced annually by a Communication of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, following a Government Decree setting the calculation coefficient. No worker in the Czech Republic should be paid less than this minimum pay rate.

Changes to Guaranteed Wage and Pay in Czech Republic from 2025

A significant change from 2025 is the modification of the system of guaranteed remuneration levels. The concept of "guaranteed wage" (zaručená mzda), which previously set minimum pay levels for 8 different groups of work based on complexity, liability, and strenuousness across the entire economy, has been abolished for the private sector.

However, a similar concept called "guaranteed pay" (zaručený plat) remains in place, but only for employees in the public services and administration and state employees. For these employees, the system has been simplified. Instead of the previous 8 groups, work is now divided into 4 groups based on complexity, responsibility, and difficulty. The assignment to these groups in the public sector is formally linked to salary classes (platové třídy) defined in specific government decrees (primarily Government Decree No. 341/2017 Sb., as amended by Decree No. 466/2024 Sb.).

The minimum guaranteed pay levels for these 4 groups in the public sector for 2025 (for a standard 40-hour week) are as follows:

Work Group (Public Sector)	Minimum Guaranteed Pay per Month	Minimum Guaranteed Pay per Hour
1	CZK 20,800	CZK 124.40
2	CZK 24,960	CZK 149.30
3	CZK 29,120	CZK 174.20
4	CZK 33,280	CZK 199.10

Source: Communication of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs No. 286/2024 Coll.

The highest minimum guaranteed pay rate in the public sector thus reaches CZK 33,280 (approx. EUR 1,331).

Determination of Guaranteed Pay Groups in the Public Sector

As mentioned, the previous system defining 8 specific work groups with examples (like kitchen assistant, bricklayer, nurse, IT expert, etc.) is no longer applicable in the same way, especially given the abolition of guaranteed wage in the private sector.

For the remaining system of guaranteed pay in the public and state sector, the assignment into the 4 groups is determined by the salary class the employee is assigned to, according to the catalogue of administrative activities or the catalogue of works in public services and administration. The link is established by Government Decree No. 466/2024 Coll. as follows:

Group 1: Includes work classified in the 1st and 2nd salary class.
Group 2: Includes work classified in the 3rd to 5th salary class.
Group 3: Includes work classified in the 6th to 9th salary class.
Group 4: Includes work classified in the 10th to 16th salary class.

The classification into salary classes itself continues to depend on the complexity, responsibility, and psychological demands of the work performed.

Supplement for Difficult Working Environment

Additionally, for employees in public services and administration and state employees, the legislation (specifically § 128 of the amended Labour Code and Communication No. 286/2024 Coll.) provides for a supplement for work performed in a difficult working environment. For the year 2025, the amount of this supplement ranges from CZK 1,040 to CZK 3,120 per month. This corresponds to 5% to 15% of the 2025 minimum monthly wage.

For more information, contact us at:

JUDr. Mojmír Ježek, Ph.D.

ECOVIS ježek, advokátní kancelář s.r.o.
Betlémské nám. 6
110 00 Praha 1
e-mail: mojmir.jezek@ecovislegal.cz
www.ecovislegal.cz

About ECOVIS ježek advokátní kancelář s.r.o.
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