The government’s proposal for next year’s basic minimum wage edged up to HUF 93,000 but it stood by its earlier proposal to raise the minimum wage for qualified workers to HUF 108,000 a month, state secretary Sandor Czomba revealed after a meeting of o the National Economy and Social Council on Monday.

The government said in September it wanted to raise the basic minimum wage to HUF 92,000 and the minimum wage for qualified workers to HUF 108,000 a month. At present, the basic minimum wage is HUF 78,000 and the minimum wage for qualified workers is HUF 94,000.

Mr Czomba said the government is recommending a 5pc overall wage rise next year. In the case of minimum wage earners, it is offering to compensate employers for the increase over 5pc, he added.

This compensation would add up to a hundred billion forint fiscal expenditure, he said, answering a question.

The government’s 2012 budget bill allocates HUF 84bn for the compensation.

A decree on the compensation will be drafted before Christmas, Mr Czomba said.