MOSCOW, December 11 (RAPSI) – Russia’ State Duma has approved in the third and final reading a bill increasing minimal monthly wage in the country by 117 ($1.7) rubles, all up to 11,280 rubles ($169.8).

Additional costs for employers are evaluated at 14.7 billion rubles ($206.3 million). New measures will affect 3.7 million employees.

In May, the minimal wage in Russia was equated to the subsistence minimum by law. According to the law, minimal wage is to be established on a level on subsistence minimum for the second quarter of a year. Expenditures aimed at raising wages and salaries of employees paid from the state budget are expected to be at 39.3 billion rubles ($593 million at the current exchange rate).