From promise to propaganda/ Albania remains at the bottom of Europe in minimum wage

"The minimum wage has doubled. At the beginning of the coming year, it will be 500 euros, we have no reason not to accept it," declared Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation, October 2025.

The statement was made at a public appearance, where the minister emphasized that the increase in the minimum wage is one of the government's main achievements, considering it an indicator of the country's economic success.

The other side of the coin

But the latest Eurostat data (July 2025) show that the minimum wage in Albania is around 408 euros (45,540 lekë). Despite gradual increases over the last decade, the country remains last in the region and in Europe, both in nominal value and in purchasing power standards.

Montenegro holds first place with 670 euros, followed by Serbia with 618 euros and North Macedonia with 584 euros.

Also, according to Eurostat, the minimum wage in EU countries ranges from €551 per month in Bulgaria to €2,704 per month in Luxembourg.

Even when purchasing power is taken into account, Albania ranks last in Europe. Food, energy and rent prices are among the highest in the region, while minimum incomes are not enough to cover basic living costs.

This shows that the "doubling" of the minimum wage, although real in nominal terms (from 24 thousand lek in 2015 to 45,540 lek in 2025), does not translate into a real improvement in the standard of living.

Propaganda and repeated promises

The minister's statement comes several months after the May 11 parliamentary elections, where the minimum wage was used as an electoral card.

At the start of the campaign, Prime Minister Edi Rama had announced the promise to increase the minimum wage to 500 euros, which according to him would be approved in June 2025 and would come into effect in January 2026.

"In June we will raise the minimum wage to 500 euros and it will come into effect from January 2026," Rama declared in April 2025, shortly before the elections, adding that this increase would not burden business.

But a verification by Faktoje showed that the decision to increase the minimum wage was not approved in June as promised.

This was not the first time that the minimum wage increase was used as a propaganda tool. Even in the 2023 local elections, the prime minister promised that the minimum wage would go to 450 euros, a promise that was not kept.

cONcluSiON

It is true that the minimum wage in Albania has doubled nominally in the last decade, from 24 thousand lek in 2015 to over 45 thousand lek in 2025. But this increase has not changed the country's ranking, which continues to remain last in the region and in Europe, both for the level of the minimum wage and for purchasing power.

Based on this data, we will categorize Minister Delina Ibrahimaj's statement as a half-truth. / Faktoje .al