Minimum Wage in Transition Economies

Abstract

ABSTRACT 
Minimum Wage has a broad implementation in the number of countries, and is one 
of the main of the policies against the discrimination in labor market. Minimum 
wages are usually established by the government or they may come as part of 
collective bargaining contract. Minimum wages try to protect employees in 
receiving the compensation in order to be able to meet the expense of basic needs 
in living.  According to the ILO Minimum Wage Convention No. 131 it is emphasized 
that elements in determining the level of minimum wages conditions should take in 
consideration basic needs of workers and their families, taking into account the 
general level of wages in the country, the cost of living, social security benefits, and 
the relative living standards of other social groups. Mainly this way Minimum 
Wages   should be determined and implemented when there is a possibility and 
depending on the relation to each countries national practices. Minimum wages 
have different dimensions and the comparison of some of South Eastern European 
countries which will be the main subject of this paper, with the main emphasis of 
implementation of Minimum Wages in countries that are still in transition. We 
found that there are some improvements regarding labor protection since the 
introduction of the minimal wages.