Amsterdam city council has voted to scrap the youth minimum wage for its own staff and will ensure that companies carrying out contracts on its behalf pay 18 to 22-year-olds higher salaries.

The decision means the ‘handful’ of young civil servants at city hall will earn higher wages but it is unclear how much the increase is likely to be. In addition, the council is to include its new wage requirements in tender documents for companies which carry out work on behalf of city hall.

Currently an 18-year-old on minimum pay earns €693.70 a month before tax and premiums while the over-22s earn €1,524.60.The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Europe where 18-year-olds are not entitled to the adult minimum wage.

In April, the cabinet agreed to reduce the age at which adult wages are paid from 23 to 21 over several years.