Minimum wage
Minimum-wage changes and enforcement by country, state and city.
18 briefs
Today · Monday 26 October
- United States·Policy & Law
Washington state minimum wage rises to $17.73 per hour starting Jan. 1, 2027
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Washington state's minimum wage will rise to $17.73 per hour, up 60 cents from 2026, with an adjusted rate for 14- and 15-year-old workers. The update also covers changes to exempt employee salary thresholds and noncompete rules.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
Saudi HR Ministry: Five worker categories covered by Nitaqat wage hike to SR6,000
Saudi Deputy HR Minister Abdullah Abuthnain said the Nitaqat Saudization wage threshold hike covers five worker categories: full-time, part-time, flexible-arrangement employees, part-time students, and disabled workers able to work. It will roll out in two phases: SR5,000 from April 25, 2027, rising to SR6,000 from April 25, 2028, with grace periods for employers.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
Saudi wage thresholds rise in 2027-28
A headline indicates Saudi minimum wage thresholds will rise during 2027-28, though no further details are provided in the excerpt.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
Saudi Arabia announces SR500 monthly financial support increase for retirees
Saudi King Salman approved on October 25, 2026, a financial relief package granting retirees and eligible beneficiaries of deceased Social Insurance subscribers or retirees a monthly allowance increase of SAR500, ahead of electricity and water tariff changes from January 1, 2027. The directive, proposed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also raises private-sector minimum wage thresholds under Saudization rules.
- Asia-Pacific·Policy & Law
Malaysia Budget 2027: RM2,000 minimum wage to take effect June 2027
Malaysia's Treasury Secretary-General Johan Mahmood Merican said the RM2,000 minimum wage, delayed to take effect in June 2027 under Budget 2027, is intended to give MSMEs time to adjust their business operations.
Yesterday · Sunday 25 October
- Asia-Pacific·Policy & Law
Japan's 2026 average minimum wage rises to ¥1,177 per hour nationwide
Japan's 2026 minimum wage revision brings the nationwide average hourly minimum wage to ¥1,177, with new rates and effective dates varying across all 47 prefectures.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
Nigeria's Federal Government Tells Labour Minimum Wage Review Due in June 2027
Nigeria's Federal Government notified labor stakeholders that the national minimum wage will be reviewed in June 2027, with specific amounts and proposals to be determined.
- United States·Policy & Law
Oakland Advances $30 Minimum Wage Proposal as Alameda Fast-Food Workers Protest Alleged Wage Theft
Oakland city council advances a $30 per hour minimum wage proposal as Alameda fast-food workers at a Jack in the Box location strike over wage theft allegations. Legal Aid at Work has filed suit; California's current fast-food minimum wage is $20 hourly.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
Saudi Arabia Sets Minimum Salary at SAR 5,000 for Private-Sector Saudi Employees
Saudi Arabia set the private-sector minimum wage for Saudi employees at SAR 5,000.
- United States·Policy & Law
US Senator Proposes Nearly $140,000 H-1B Salary Threshold
A US senator proposed raising the H-1B visa minimum salary threshold to nearly $140,000 to increase wage standard requirements for employer applications.
- Middle East & Africa·Policy & Law
King Salman Orders SR500 Allowance Increase, Raises Minimum Wage
King Salman ordered a SR500 allowance increase and raised the minimum wage for Saudi citizens.
- Asia-Pacific·Policy & Law
Philippine TUCP Slams Western Visayas' P40-45 Minimum Wage Hike as 'Crumbs'
Philippines' DOLE regional wage board issued Order 30 raising Western Visayas minimum wage 40–45 pesos (≈P5/hour); agriculture workers rose from P520 to P565, capping daily pay at P590—below Manila's P755 and IBON Foundation's estimated P1,081 living wage. TUCP dismissed the hike as insignificant.
- United States·Policy & Law
Minneapolis Minimum Wage to Rise to $17.02 on January 1
Minneapolis minimum wage rises to $17.02 per hour effective January 1, 2027.
- United States·Policy & Law
Florida's Minimum Wage Rises to $15 Per Hour
Florida's minimum wage rose to $15 per hour on September 30, completing the phased increase approved by voters in 2020. The $1-per-hour increase adds $2,080 annual pre-tax income for full-time workers at 40 hours weekly, affecting employers, consumers and job seekers in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie regions.
Saturday 24 October
- Europe·Policy & Law
Romania's Labour Minister Says Minimum Wage Stays at 4,325 Lei on Jan 1, 2027
Romania's Labour Minister Florin Manole says minimum wage remains 4,325 lei (pre-tax) from January 1, 2027, with final determination through social dialogue involving unions and employers.
- Asia-Pacific·Policy & Law
MTUC Warns Minimum-Wage Exemption Could Leave 8.1 Million MSME Workers Without Pay Raise
Malaysia's Trade Union Congress warns government's temporary minimum wage exemption for MSMEs could leave 8.1 million workers without raises, urging targeted assistance over blanket waivers.
Friday 23 October
- Asia-Pacific·Policy & Law
ACCCIM Warns Excessive Minimum Wage Hike Could Cause Cost Shock for Malaysian Businesses
Malaysia's Chinese Chamber of Commerce warns that excessive minimum wage increases risk cost shock for thin-margin businesses, raising concerns about competitiveness.
- Asia-Pacific·Research
Report: Malaysia lacks higher-paying job creation despite higher minimum wage
A report finds that despite a higher minimum wage, Malaysia lacks sufficient creation of higher-paying jobs, with employment remaining concentrated in occupations with weak wage progression. It calls for a stronger wage ladder to help semi-skilled workers advance.