Impact of Possible Growth of Minimum Wage in Georgia

Setting proper Minimum Wage is a challenge, as each country should maintain a balance in the economy: make it high enough to ensure standard of life of its workers as well as not to increase too much to undermine capacity of the economy.  20 GEL ($8), the current monthly Minimum Wage in Georgia, is too low and outdated. Since its introduction in 1999, it has never been adjusted to changing consumer prices (inflation), wages (increase in average monthly earning), or the standard of living in Georgia. The Subsistence Minimum, pension for elderly and all other social benefits in Georgia are much higher than the current Minimum Wage.

Davit Darsavelidze, Friderich-Ebert-Stiftung

Tbilisi, 2019