Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on July 18 announced public sector earnings would increase by 10% yearly over the next three years until 2026.
The Ministry of Finance cites the minister as saying that a Government meeting had “formed certain directions” on how to regulate remuneration of labour in public services.
“Starting from January 1, 2026, the basic official salary should be determined by the percentage of the average salary increase in the non-state sector during the last four quarters. Also starting from 2026, the basic official salary should be determined so that the average salary in the state sector is not less than 80% and more than 90% of the average salary in the non-state sector – that is, the range in which the average salary level in the public sector should be determined in relation to the private sector”, Khutsishvili said.
The minister added the salaries should rise from the current 74% of the non-state sector wage, which he called “one of the lowest rates in history”, to 90%. He also noted the state budget bill reflecting the fresh decision would be tabled to the Parliament.
Public servants are already receiving a 10% salary increase from January 1, as announced by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili during his pre-election campaign in 2021.
Data published by the National Statistics Office in June said the average monthly salary in Georgia was up by GEL 190 ($65 or EUR 63) in the first quarter of 2022, marking a 15.1% growth compared to the same period of last year and totaling GEL 1,446 ($492 or EUR 486). (Agenda/Business World Magazine)