Vucic: Serbian average monthly wage to exceed 1,000 euros next year

BELGRADE - The average monthly wage in Serbia will exceed 1,000 euros in a year and two months' time, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday.

"I expect the level of the average wage in Serbia to be around 840 euros, perhaps even 845 euros in March, and then around 955 euros in December, but that is not realistic and not the average for this year. But next year it will exceed 1,050 euros. I believe we will pass the 1,000 euro mark in a year and two months' time," Vucic said during a tour of the construction site of the Lozionica (Boiler Room) creative and innovation centre in Belgrade.

With the minimum wage, Serbia will try to protect its poorest population without jeopardising investors, who could look elsewhere to find cheaper labour, Vucic said.

"The labour force is not the cheapest here, but it is good and, economically, the environment here is the most favourable one and we are a fast-progressing country that also has all the other positive characteristics, from the geographic location to good legislation and everything else," he said.

Once the average monthly wage exceeds 1,000 euros, people will start returning to Serbia, Vucic said.