News item | 24-04-2025 | 18:24
Minister Van Hijum (Social Affairs and Employment) increases the minimum youth wage on 1 January 2027. That was agreed by the cabinet in the Spring Memorandum. The minister increases the youth wage to increase the existence of young people.
By increasing the youth wage, the minister provides a significant improvement in the wages of young people. The increase in the minimum youth wage applies to young people aged 16 to 20 years. From 2027, the wage gradually increases more per age category.
For example: from July 1, 2025, the minimum youth wage is € 8.64 per hour for a 19-year-old. With the increase from 2027, the minimum youth wage for a 19-year-old goes up to 75% of the regular minimum wage. If this increase were already being implemented, the minimum youth wage for a 19-year-old would be € 10.80 per hour. However, this example is hypothetical because the minimum youth wage will not be increased in two years. In addition, the regular minimum wage amount that serves as a basis for the calculation of the minimum youth wage as of January 1, 2027.
Minister Van Hijum: “I see increasing the youth wage as an important step towards more existence for young people. If you are young, you should not make the choice between studying or work because otherwise you will not be completed. In conversations with young people themselves, those worries emerged. By increasing the youth wage, young people will soon have more financial independence and can fully participate in the labor market, in exchange for a fair reward.“
In the overview below the current percentages of the minimum youth wage and the percentages with which the minimum youth wage is then derived from the minimum wage from 2027
- 20 years 80%
Per 2027 87.5% - 19 years 60%
Per 2027 75% - 18 years 50%
Per 2027 62.5% - 17 years 39.5%
Per 2027 50% - 16 years 34.5%
Per 2027 40% - 15 years 30%
Per 2027 30%
Cabinet response Exploration Minimum Youth Wage
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has carried out an exploration into the minimum youth wage. The purpose of this was to list all relevant factual information about the youth wage. An extensive cabinet response to this exploration and the choice to increase the youth wage follows before the summer.