MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain's minimum wage will increase by 22% in 2019, announces PM Sanchez

Millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the increase on Wednesday

Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring “a rich country cannot have poor workers”.

The announcement comes two days after France's president Emmanuel Macron announced a €100 increase for minimum wage earners from 2019.

Mr. Macron's move came after weeks of sometimes violent protests from the “gilets jaunes” movement against high costs of living.

But while Spain's increase is part of an annual review, it is far higher than any adjustment in recent years.

Spain's minimum wage is lower than that of the UK, Germany and France but higher than in other EU members including Portugal, Greece and Poland.

Many workers in Spain are paid for 14 months of work, with extra payments in July and December - making the effective annual minimum salary €12,600.

Ministers will approve the measure at their meeting on 21 December, Mr. Sanchez said. It will then be authorized by royal decree, without the need for approval by parliament.

Spain sets the minimum wage annually, but recent increases have been much smaller - set at just 4% a year ago. If all goes to according to plan, the increase will be the biggest since 1977, the year of Spain's first free elections following the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

The large bump is the result of an ongoing attempt by Mr. Sánchez's minority government to secure its political plans - including budget measures - with the help of anti-austerity party Podemos.

Podemos claimed the minimum wage increase as a victory for the party, with its General Secretary Ramón Espinar calling it “the first step to balance the scales”.

Mr. Sanchez is also under pressure from Catalan separatist parties - they have refused to back him over rising tensions between the semi-autonomous region and Madrid - and from the success of far-right party Vox - it made gains in Andalucía's regional election.