Minimum wage for 2027: what is decided and what is only a proposal

The government must set next year's minimum wage by October 31. Employers propose €1,086.75 gross and a construction union asks for €1,250. For the rest of 2026 the minimum stays at €1,050 gross.

Published 2026-10-10 · Source checked 2026-10-09

Many Nepali workers in Croatia earn at or close to the minimum wage, so the figure for 2027 matters. Under the Minimum Wage Act, the government sets the next year's amount by decree no later than October 31, after consulting unions and employers. The new amount cannot be lower than the current one. For 2026 it is €1,050 gross a month for full-time work.

Nothing for 2027 has been decided yet. On October 2, Finance Minister Tomislav Ćorić said the minimum wage should rise so that inflation does not lower the living standard of the people who earn it, but he would not give a figure before the end of the month. He said average inflation for 2026 could end above 4 percent.

The proposals are far apart. On October 9, the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) proposed a rise of up to 3.5 percent, to €1,086.75 gross, together with a higher tax-free personal allowance, from €600 to about €840. Earlier, the Construction Workers' Union (Sindikat graditeljstva) asked for €1,250 gross, which it said would lift take-home pay from roughly €800 to about €1,000, depending on where you live and your tax reliefs. €1,250 by 2028 is also the target in the government's own programme.

Two points to keep in mind while waiting. First, the minimum wage is a gross amount for full-time work; what reaches your account is lower after contributions and tax. Second, extra pay for overtime, night work, Sunday and public-holiday work and difficult working conditions is not counted inside the minimum wage. It comes on top. Part-time workers are paid in proportion to their hours.

What to do: check your payslip for the gross amount and for separate lines showing supplements. The Labour Ministry says the minimum wage must be agreed in the contract as a gross amount, so if your contract mentions only a net figure, ask your employer about it. Do not rely on numbers circulating on social media; we will report the government's decision when the decree is adopted.

Sources

1. HRT Vijesti · Newspaper
2. Jutarnji list · Newspaper
3. Index.hr · Newspaper
4. Poslovni dnevnik · Newspaper
5. Ministry of Labour (MROSP) – Minimum Wage Act FAQ · Official source
6. Ministry of Labour (MROSP) – Minimum wage for 2026: €1,050 gross · Official source

This explanation is based on linked sources and does not claim independent on-the-ground reporting.