What is the minimum wage in 2026?
€915 a month — the largest year-on-year rise on record. From 1 January 2026 the minimum monthly wage at the first level of work difficulty is €915 gross. That is €99 more than in 2025. The minimum hourly wage works out at €5.26 on a full 40-hour week. Net, for a typical employee with no children who has signed the declaration claiming the tax-free allowance, that comes to roughly €728.90 a month. Important: the figure applies to the first difficulty level — at higher levels the minimum entitlement is higher, and various premiums are calculated from the minimum wage as well. The minimum wage also drives the premiums for night work, holidays and weekends — those are calculated on top of it, not into it.
📋 The rules
- From 1 Jan 2026: €915 a month gross
- Minimum hourly wage: €5.26 on a 40-hour week
- Rise on 2025: +€99 — the largest on record
- Net roughly €728.90 for a typical employee
- The figure applies to the first level of work difficulty
🔓 Exceptions
- Higher levels of work difficulty carry a higher minimum entitlement
- Night, holiday and weekend premiums are calculated from the minimum wage
- On a part-time contract the amount is reduced pro rata
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Paying below the statutory minimum breaches the Labour Code and is sanctioned by the labour inspectorate — the employer faces a fine, and can be fined repeatedly until it is put right. The shortfall must be paid to you, together with interest for late payment. Do not fall for two common tricks: "the minimum wage includes the premiums" — it does not, premiums are calculated on top; and "you are part-time, so it does not apply" — it does, the amount is simply reduced pro rata. A report to the labour inspectorate can be filed anonymously. Keep your payslips and your contract.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What is the minimum wage in 2026?
From 1 January 2026 it is €915 a month gross at the first level of work difficulty. That is a rise of €99 on 2025 — the largest year-on-year increase in the minimum wage in Slovakia's history.
What is that per hour?
The minimum hourly wage is €5.26 on a full 40-hour week. On a part-time contract the monthly figure is reduced pro rata to the hours actually worked, while the hourly rate itself stays the same.
How much is that net?
Roughly €728.90 a month for a typical employee with no children who has signed the declaration claiming the tax-free part of the tax base. The figure shifts with the number of children and any tax bonuses claimed.
Are premiums part of the minimum wage?
No. Night, holiday and weekend premiums are calculated on top of the minimum wage, not folded into it. The opposite reading is common among employers but wrong — and the shortfall has to be paid to you.
What if my employer pays less?
They must pay you the difference, together with interest for late payment. A report to the labour inspectorate can be filed anonymously, and the employer faces repeated fines until it is put right. Keep your payslips and your contract.
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