Minimum wage: 12 questions left by the State Council's suspension of the 23% increase decreed for this year
The increase in the minimum wage in Colombia has once again become the eye of the storm. Photo: Image generated with artificial intelligence.
TL;DR
- The provisional suspension of the 2026 minimum wage decree has created confusion.
- The State Council stated the adjustment only applies when a new decree is issued and published.
- The government has eight days to issue a new decree; until then, the current wage should remain.
- The decision does not authorize automatic changes or advance recalculations of payroll.
- Payments already made or incurred before the new decree should not be reversed without normative support.
- Experts warn that the primary risk is operational disorder during the transition, not the wage number.
- Workers should focus on the liquidation period rather than the payment date.
- Salaries based on the legal minimum will adjust with the new decree, while fixed-peso contracts should not change.
- Indirectly affected items like overtime and surcharges depend on the hourly rate, which could change.
- Contributions to health and pension are calculated on a base, which must align with the basic salary.
- Independent workers should adjust contributions based on real income, not rumors.
- Clear, documented communication is advised for HR to prevent misunderstandings about payroll changes.