WARSAW, Sept 14 Reuters Poland39;s minimum wage will rise by almost 18 in January, the prime minister said on Thursday, ahead of Oct. 15 elections in which the cost of living ranks high among voters39; concerns.

Bidding to become the first Polish government since the fall of communism to win three terms in office, nationalists Law and Justice PiS are emphasising the impact the introduction of generous social benefits and sharp minimum wage increases have had on voters lives.

After the hike to 4,242 zlotys 980 a month in January, the minimum wage will rise again to 4,300 zlotys in July, bringing the total increase since PiS came to power in 2015 to 146. The party has also announced a 60 increase in child benefit payments which will come into effect in January.

Today, at the Council of Ministers, we adopted the minimum hourly rate, which in 2024 will be 27.70 zlotys, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference. During the Civic Platform government, work for a few zlotys per hour was the norm.

Civic Platform PO are Poland39;s largest opposition party and the leading force in the Civic Coalition KO grouping which seeks to topple PiS.

KO spokesperson Jan Grabiec said the prime minister39;s words did not reflect the real situation of Poles, who have seen doubledigit inflation eat into their purchasing power.

They are looking for some symbol to show that people39;s lives are not worse, but the fact is that Poles39; financial situation is much worse than…