The proposal for a minimum wage is a legally binding text, Socialist Group MEP Costas Mavridis tells the Cyprus News Agency. Mavridis explains that when Ursula von der Leyen was about to be elected to the Presidency of the European Commission, the Social Democrats' political group made it a condition that during her term of office she would submit a legally binding text on the minimum wage, which she did.
At the same time, she clarifies that the text does not set the wage of any worker in any member state, because the EU treaties do not allow it, adding that each member state can have different minimum wages depending on the professional sector. The proposal, says Mavridis, creates a mandatory framework and puts two pillars: first, the state can decide the indicators (cost of living, comparison of wages within the economy, the level of the economy). Second, the minimum wage must ensure a decent living, he explains.
In addition, the Socialist MEP notes that Cyprus does not have a minimum wage, except in a limited number of professions. "What concerns Cyprus is that any member state that has organised its workers with collective agreements at a nationwide level below 80% has an obligation to submit a national plan on how to drive the labour market to 80%," he points out, adding that only 50% of workers in Cyprus have a collective agreement. In our country, those working in the wider public sector are fully covered, while those working in the private sector are not, he says. "Collective agreements will give better coverage especially to workers in the private sector," he tells CNA.
In September 2022 it will be finalised and a two-year horizon will be set, within which the implementation of the proposal should be ensured, he concludes.
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