BUDAPEST: Average gross wages in Hungary saw a year-on-year rise of 4.9%, reaching HUF 247,917 in March, with net wages rising at the same pace to reach HUF 162,387, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said today in a first release of data.
Calculating with negative CPI of 0.6%, real wages rose by 5.5%, KSH said. Excluding the impact of the fostered workers, who earned just HUF 79,777 in March, gross wages were up 3.2% at HUF 258,453. The data also include those employed in public work schemes and those working abroad for less than one year. Fostered workers are employed by the government and paid less than minimum wage to work at jobs such as street sweepers or Metro ticket takers.
Under the budget plan for 2016, the allocation for fostered work programs would rise by HUF 70 billion to HUF 340 billion next year, ensuring participation for 240,000 Hungarians. The bill would allocate HUF 138 billion in support for companies that hire disadvantaged workers.