Minimum Wage Suspension: 6 Things You Should Know and Why Monday Will Be the Key Day
More than 2 million Colombian workers were left in uncertainty after the State Council's decision to provisionally halt the ...
TL;DR
- The State Council suspended the 23.7% increase in Colombia's minimum wage for 2026.
- The suspension is provisional and stems from legal challenges arguing the government exceeded its authority by not adhering to mandatory technical parameters for wage adjustments.
- Workers who have already been paid the increased minimum wage in January will not have to return the money, as the suspension is not retroactive.
- The government has been ordered to issue a new provisional decree within eight days, likely based on 2025 inflation (5.1%) and productivity (0.91%), suggesting an increase around 6.01%.
- The original 23.7% increase remains legally in effect until the new provisional decree is officially published.
- President Petro has called for a meeting with employers and unions on Monday to discuss the temporary decree, emphasizing the need for a social pact.