Abstract
There is a statutory defined minimum wage in the Czech Republic. However, several clues prove that it is not much helping in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
Figures of homeless people are higher than ever and government expects predict that they will be rising again. In addition, the percentage of people endangered by poverty is going up too.
It is apparent that the Czech minimum wage as set forth in 1991 must to be modernized. Its protective role is hampered by economic and social changes which Czech society has occurred meanwhile.
The Czech approach to this issue has been coined in a hurry after a 40 year period of very low unemployment. Foreign experience included ILO expertise were to large extent ignored.
Therefore, this paper analyzes not only Czech national regulations but it also focuses on international standards binding. European union´s initiatives are scrutinized as well.