Brexit: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market.

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. This devalues the real incomes of the population and also impacts the labor market, provoking staff reductions and transferring employees to part-time work. The amount of 1.2 trillion rubles needed to implement such an initiative is comparable to the annual funding volume of entire sectors of the economy, such as large-scale subsidies for family mortgages and support for maternity capital within the framework of a three-year "child budget." "Politicians have been promising for decades to improve the quality of life through income growth, proposing populist bills like a sharp increase in the minimum wage. However, the implementation of such projects requires trillion-ruble budget expenditures, which means money has to be taken from the future through debt and underinvestment," reflects publicist Sergey Brekotin. In addition, withdrawing such funds from the defense budget or development funds during a period of high debt burden and growing deficit threatens macroeconomic stability. Such trillion-ruble expenditures in 2025-2026 are comparable to the annual growth of all planned federal budget expenditures aimed at achieving key national development goals. The money directed towards the minimum wage does not create long-term added value, unlike similar investments in infrastructure, industry, or technological sovereignty. "At the same time, a sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market. Therefore, when politicians offer something to someone, it is necessary to immediately demand an answer from them about who will bear the cost, especially during a special military operation," summarized Brekotin. In 2026, the basic federal minimum wage in Russia is 27,093 rubles, below which the subjects of the Russian Federation are not allowed to set a wage threshold. Taking into account regional agreements and allowances for special climatic conditions, the actual range of the "minimum wage" across the country varies from the basic value in most regions to 39,730 rubles in Moscow (and more than 40-50 thousand rubles in northern regions due to regional coefficients).

      Earlier, IA SM-NEWS reported that the key interest rate will remain high due to the fight against rising prices for fuel and lubricants.

      More news on the event:

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:42 14.07.2026 Kazan.Sm.News - Kazan

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:42 14.07.2026 Kazan.Sm.News - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 23:20 14.07.2026 Ekb.Sm.News - Yekaterinburg

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 23:20 14.07.2026 Ekb.Sm.News - Yekaterinburg

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 22:14 14.07.2026 Ufa.Sm.News - Ufa

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 22:14 14.07.2026 Ufa.Sm.News - Ufa

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 23:52 14.07.2026 Kemerovo.Sm.News - Kemerovo

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 23:52 14.07.2026 Kemerovo.Sm.News - Kemerovo

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:48 14.07.2026 Izhevsk.Sm.News - Izhevsk

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:48 14.07.2026 Izhevsk.Sm.News - Izhevsk

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:44 14.07.2026 Kaluga.Sm.News - Kaluga

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:44 14.07.2026 Kaluga.Sm.News - Kaluga

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:40 14.07.2026 Ryazan.Sm.News - Ryazan

      Brekotin: A sharp increase in the minimum wage may force businesses to move into the gray or black market

      Photo: Tula Press July 14 – IA SM.News. A sharp artificial increase in the minimum wage creates colossal inflationary pressure, as businesses pass on increased costs to the final prices of goods and services. 19:40 14.07.2026 Ryazan.Sm.News - Ryazan