this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2025

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Poland’s minimum wage exceeds US federal rate for first time (notesfrompoland.com)

submitted 4 months ago by Timbits@lemmy.ca to c/world@quokk.au

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Poland’s minimum hourly wage has, for the first time, surpassed the federal minimum wage in the United States. On 1 January, the minimum wage in Poland rose to 30.50 zloty per hour before tax, which at the average exchange rate so far this year is $7.35

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[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 44 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Unions are why Australia has the highest minimum wage. if you're ever unfortunate enough to be in a minimum wage job make a point of organising.

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I thought the highest worldwide were in Geneva?

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 4 points 4 months ago

was just going off wikipedia but you're right. Switzerland doesn't have a national minimum wage but the few cantons that do are the highest in the world.

heh, Aus is top of every list I can find because they are all sorted by national minimum. I would argue that a national award is stronger than a local minimum but I also like seeing us on top, so biased.

[–] normalexit@lemmy.world 34 points 4 months ago

Good job Poland! Do better US!

[–] Disaster@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Next they will find they can into space.

[–] Mojave@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I think you a word

[–] eatthecake@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago

https://www.polandballwiki.com/wiki/Poland_cannot_into_space

[–] theUwUhugger@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Ooooooh, yes! So they can have bragging rights for a literally pointless but expensive act! Brilliant!

[–] jagged_circle 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Had to read it three times to realize its Poland not Portland

[+] MudMan@fedia.io -22 points 4 months ago (4 children)

I have to admit, I'm somewhat confounded by the choice of countries here. I guess it's minor bragging rights for Poland? The US federal rate is 21st in the world, from what I can look up (presumably before Poland slipped in there, so... 22nd, I guess?), and the average minimum wage is 10th (and still higher than Poland's, incidentally).

I don't know that "random country in the middle of the pack loses/gains one more position" seems super newsworthy.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 42 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Well presumably a Polish dedicated website would be looking at this even from a Polish perspective.

Newsworthy does not only mean important to Americans.

[+] MudMan@fedia.io -33 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Yeah, it's just... have some self-esteem, you know? We expect you to do better for your own sake in this house, Poland. No need to keep comparing yourself to the US just because you think it's popular. I promise you the US doesn't like itself that much, either.

I mean, if the US jumped off a bridge would you? We like you, Poland, but you have to learn to value yourself for who you are.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I imagine from Polands point of view, it is another step towards being a wealthy country, rather than a poor country on the edge of Europe. It’s not necessarily bad to compare, nor does it change things in Poland. However, knowing that you get paid the same as many in the USA, with, I would assume, cheaper prices for most things and better social support is a big deal for those on minimum wage. 50 years ago, countries like Poland looked up to the USA. Now they are seen as a larger peer, but it’s less about the USAs decline, more polands arrival.

[–] vodka@lemm.ee 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

It's a website dedicated to news around Poland, and you think that Poland overtaking the US in minimum wage for the first time ever isn't news worthy of such a site..?

The news isn't "hey look were better than the almighty US!!!" it's "hey we've got a better minimum wage than x country which we've never had before"

[–] BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Funny enough I would say the US already jumped off a bridge, and sadly enough several countries in the EU are right on the heels.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io -4 points 4 months ago

You know, I genuinely considered making that joke and then remembered my vow to stop caring about what Americans choose to do to themselves.

[–] Captainvaqina@sh.itjust.works 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It highlights how corrupted the supposed #1 "greatest and richest" country in the world has become. It needs adjusted

[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This article is about Poland. Their transition to capitalism was done in a sane way after the fall of the Soviet Union where instead of shock therapy they allowed private companies go outcompete public ones. Polish people have also worked very hard around the continent and send remittances back home on a regular basis.

Poland has been developing so fast that it now hit a benchmark of having their min wage higher than that of the US with their exploitative worker policy. This is great news about how far Poland has come compared to the stagnation of wages in the US. Poland started a whole generation behind the US in 1990 so good on them.

[–] Vincent 6 points 4 months ago

It's gaining over a very rich country. True, that rich country should do better, but still, it's something to be proud of to be able to do better than such a rich country.