GLOBAL: Amended Minimum Salary Thresholds for Foreign and Domestic Workers

January 21, 2016


Since the start of 2016, several countries around the world have amended their minimum salary threshold for foreign and domestic workers.

We have summarised these changes for you, which came into effect on 1st January 2016. These are as follows:

Belgium

Type-B Work Permit holders (Highly Skilled Foreign Nationals) are required now to earn a minimum of €39,802 per annum, which has decreased from the previous threshold of €39,824. Type-B Work Permit holders (Senior Management and Executive Level Foreign Nationals) also have a reduced salary threshold to meet and are now required to earn a minimum of €66,406 per annum – a decrease from the previous threshold of €66,442. Conversely, Blue Card holders are now required to earn a minimum of least €54,466 per annum (this was previously €51,494).

Germany

The minimum salary threshold for Blue Card (Non-Shortage Occupation) holders is now €49,600 per annum, whereas previously this was €48,400. Blue Card (Shortage Occupation) holders must earn a minimum of €38,688, which has increased from the previous annual figure of €37,753.
 

Ireland

The national minimum wage threshold has been increased to €9.15 per hour, which equates to €18,556 per annum.

This change will have an effect on certain classifications of expats living in Ireland, including holders of Dependent Partner/Spouse Employment Permits, Internship Employment Permits and Intra-Company Transfer or Contract for Services Employment Permit (if the employee”s basic salary requires an additional top-up to meet the minimum wage threshold).
 

Israel

The average gross monthly salary threshold has been increased to ILS 9,334 from the previous figure of ILS 9,123.

As a result, holders of B-1 Foreign Expert Permits must earn at least ILS 18,668 per month, which is double the gross monthly salary minimum.

Please note, foreign workers in the Short Employment Authorisation (SEA) or Short-Term Expedited Process (STEP) immigration categories remain unaffected by this change.
 

Netherlands

Knowledge Migrants who are over 30 years old are now required to earn a minimum of €4,240 per month, which has increased from the previous threshold of €4,189. Knowledge Migrants who are under 30 years old must now earn at least €3,108 per month, which has increased from the previous figure of €3,071.

Recent graduates from Dutch Universities are now required to earn at least €2,228 per month and Blue Card holders must earn a monthly minimum of €4,968.
 

For further clarification on any of the above, please email [email protected]