Netherlands: minimum wage increases as of 1 July 2022

As of 1 July, the gross statutory minimum wage for those over the age of 21 in the Netherlands has risen from €1,725 to €1,756.20 per month, representing a pay rise of 1.81%. The latest minimum wage rise follows an increase of 2.4% that took effect in January of this year. The rise takes into account the progression of all contractual wages in 2022 as published in the central economic plan, in accordance with the Participation Act. The Netherlands is one of six EU countries, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Greece and Romania, to have made a second adjustment to its minimum wage since the beginning of the year (see article n°13080). The new figure applies to a full working week of 36, 38 or 40 hours, meaning an hourly wage of €11.26, €10.67 or €10.14 respectively. For those under 21, the legal minimum monthly wage is set at €526.85 (15 years of age), €605.90 (16), €693.70 (17), €878.10 (18), €1053.70 (19) and €1404.95 (20). The Dutch government is already planning to increase the minimum wage by a total of 7.5% over the next three years. Initially the plan was to implement the rise in two stages, in 2024 and 2025, but in view of the high rate of inflation (8.1% on average in the first half of 2022), it was ultimately decided to introduce it in three stages starting on 1 January 2023.