Directive (EU) 2022/2041 on Adequate Minimum Wages: ECJ Judgment on its validity and implications from the national perspective of Spain

Abstract

This paper addresses Directive (EU) 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union. Firstly, it stresses its general significance, as a milestone in EU social policy, which aims to strengthen the guarantees on the right to a fair and sufficient pay for a decent standard of living in every member state, by promoting collective bargaining on remunerations and adequate systems for fixing and updating minimum wages, but without imposing a uniform European minimum wage. Secondly, it comments on the Judgment of the European Court of Justice about this Directive (ECJ Judgment 11 November 2025, Case C‑19/23), which largely confirms its validity, although it annuls some concrete aspects. Finally, it analyses the implications and transposition of the Directive from the national perspective of Spain, pointing to a moderate but not worthless impact.