The economic crisis in Greece saw wages plummet, unemployment spike and a huge brain drain away from the country as professionals sought jobs abroad. A domino of bankruptcies left behind a disaster zone of wage cuts and unemployment, and though the minimum wage fell to 703 euros per month, the reality was even harsher with young people averaging less than that via part time work arrangements.

The Greek conservative New Democracy government is now looking at ways to lift the minimum wage with Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas repeating his party’s pledge to increase salaries. A series of consultations and committee reviews are planned with reports expected to be gathered by 31 March.

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The Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) will draft the final set of conclusions from the deliberation process by 31 May.

Greece’s Naftemporiki newspaper reports that the average daily wage and average monthly salary has already increased for employees in the private sector with rates for February 2019 showing average salaries at 51.28 euros (day rate) and 1,182.39 euros (monthly rate) respectively. Part-time employment for February 2019 was at 24.1 euros and 396.11 euros per month respectively according to data collected from nearly 251,000 businesses and 2.054 million wage-earners of which 35,000 were employed in the construction sector.

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