An agreement for EU member states to ensure that minimum wages provide a decent standard of living has been struck by negotiators from the member states and Parliament.
Six of the EU's 27 member states do not have a minimum wage and will not be required to introduce one.
But under the deal the 21 that do would be required to follow common rules but not the same rates.
The deal first needs to be voted on before it becomes law.
An estimated one in 10 workers across the EU earns the minimum wage, but the levels vary dramatically from country to country.
In Germany, the parliament has just backed a rise from the current rate of 9.82 (8.40) an hour to 12 (10.25) in October.
Luxembourg has by far the highest minimum wage of 13.05, followed by Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
Bulgaria has the lowest at 2.19, followed by Hungary and Romania.
"The new rules on minimum wages will protect the dignity of work and make sure that work pays," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
European Parliament negotiator Agnes Jongerius emerged from the talks in the early hours of Tuesday saying the deal meant that shop-workers, cleaners and postal workers would all quickly end up with a fairer wage.
Explaining the proposed EU directive, she said national minimum wages would have to enable workers to lead a decent life, taking into account the cost of living and the wider level of salaries. Twenty-two EU countries currently failed that test, she argued.
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