The bill will be suspended for 60 days and was presented by almost all of the opposition parties in parliament.
The ruling majority has put its path through parliament on ice, having initially moved to quash it completely.
Opposition lawmakers shouted “shame” as the suspension was approved with 168 votes in favour, 128 against and three abstentions.
Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein said the ruling coalition “runs away when faced with a real problem”.
“We are open to dialogue, but not to indefinite delays,” Schlein told the House.
“The ruling majority is saying it couldn’t care less about people’s suffering.”
Ex-prime minister and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte said Meloni’s comments about being open to dialogue about a minimum wage ended up being “just words”.
“I say it to you right now,” Conte said.
“Don’t turn up in October with crafty proposals that seek to create a rift between underpaid workers.
“While mortgages, petrol and shopping prices rise, there are people who work morning to night for four or five euros (an hour) gross,” he added.
“(Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio) Tajani has said that this is a Soviet-style measure.
“He should know that 21 out of the 27 EU countries have adopted this solution.
“Today the legal minimum wage is postponed until after the summer in the hope that the Italian people forget about it.”
ANSA
