Wage-differences can be tenfold in the EU

As we already reported, there are crushing differences among the core countries and the periphery of the EU regarding salaries. According to a recent Eurostat report, the average wage per hour was 23.1 EUR last year in the EU. This sum was even higher in the Eurozone; 26.9 EUR. The former equals 7,200 HUF, the latter 8,400 HUF. In contrast, the average salary per hour in Hungary is only 2,500 HUF (7.8 EUR). Hvg.hu summed up Eurostat’s report.

Employees get less in every respect in Hungary

In fact, Eurostat took into consideration not only the wages but also social assistance and fringe benefits. Thus, based on data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO) the situation is even worse. If we calculate the Hungarian average gross salary which is 310,000 HUF (988.4 EUR) and we divide it by 22 workdays the average gross wage per hour becomes 5.7 EUR, less than 1,800 HUF.

This does not reach the average of 2005 calculated by Eurostat which was 5.8 EUR.

Companies pay the lowest average salary per hour in Bulgaria and Romania. In fact, they are followed by Poland and Hungary. The highest wages are paid in Norway, Luxemburg, Denmark and Belgium. The Norwegian average salary per hour is 46 EUR (14,300 HUF) which is ten times higher than the 1,500 HUF (EUR 4.78) paid in Bulgaria.

According to an earlier report of Eurostat summarised by hvg.hu,

poverty threatens 9.7% of those Hungarians who are working.

Among people who are between jobs this rate is even worse; 48.2%.