Marit Maij· S&D

Nuanced

The Netherlands is one of the few countries that applies a youth minimum wage

Omissions

• The claim 'one of the few' is subjective without exact figures on how many EU countries have youth minimum wages
• ETUC lists at least 4 EU countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Greece) with youth minimum wages, but this may not be an exhaustive list
• The source is a trade union organization (secondary source), not an official statistical database
• The UK is also mentioned as having youth minimum wages, though it is no longer an EU member

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat - European CommissionAs of 1 January 2025, 22 out of 27 EU countries have national minimum wages
• SecondaryEuropean Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)In countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Greece and the UK, lower minimum wages apply for young people
• SecondaryInterfisc - A comparison of minimum wages between European countriesIn the Netherlands, every employee from the age of 15 is entitled to at least the statutory minimum (youth) wage
• SecondaryRAND Europe / Youth Futures Foundation - What works in reducing NEET rates: The NetherlandsThe youth minimum wage is a structural feature in the Netherlands providing further explanation for the high youth employment rate