The minimum wage in 2028 will reach 60,000 lek per month

The Albanian government is expected to raise the minimum wage to 60,000 lek per month by 2028, as part of its strategy for gradually increasing incomes and improving the living standards of low-paid workers.

According to information from the Ministry of Finance, in the 2026 draft budget this goal aims to continue the trend of recent years, during which the minimum wage has increased significantly from 30,000 lek in 2022 to 40,000 lek as of March 2023 and is expected to reach 50,000 lek in 2026, according to the draft budget projections.

Sources close to the Ministry of Finance and Economy say the government is considering a new medium-term scenario that foresees no increase in the minimum wage in 2027, with the next raise planned for January 2028, 10,000 lek higher than the 2026 level.

The rise in the minimum wage has become one of the most debated issues in economic policy, as it directly affects labor costs, social contributions, and increases pressure on inflation.

Business representatives have expressed concern that rapid increases could burden labor-intensive sectors such as garment manufacturing and services, where low labor costs are a key part of the business model.

If this plan is implemented, the minimum wage will have increased by 50% over six years from 40,000 lek in 2023 to 60,000 lek in 2028. This would bring Albania closer to the average of regional countries, where in some states, such as Montenegro and Serbia, the minimum wage already exceeds the equivalent of 55,000–60,000 lek per month.

The decision to raise the minimum wage to 60,000 lek is expected to be finalized within the fiscal package for 2027–2028, following consultations with stakeholders and an analysis of the impact on the labor market.

“KORÇA BOOM”