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The minister is certain that the minimum wage next year should remain the same – EUR 360. Augulis explained that many business owners have cut working hours for their employees this year in order to avoid paying full minimum wage. He also said that employees at social care centers, for instance, choose to work as caretakers in order to work in shifts and thus earn more. Such situations are unacceptable, says the minister.

The Welfare Ministry has submitted three proposals for the minimum wage in 2016 – to keep it as the current level, to increase it to EUR 267 or to EUR 375. However, the minister supports maintaining the minimum wage at its current level also in the coming year.

"We cannot get ahead of ourselves knowing that we could fail," said the minister.

As reported, the Economy Ministry supports increasing the minimum wage from EUR 360 to EUR 375, however, the Welfare Ministry believes that the minimum wage ought to be increased by only seven euros or not increased at all, according to the Welfare Ministry's report on minimum wages in 2016.