'It was a lie, minimum wage had no negative effects on employment': Minister of Labor

Minister of Labor, Antonio Sanguino Photo: Mintrabajo

'It was a lie, minimum wage had no negative effects on employment': Minister of Labor

TL;DR

  • Minister of Labor Antonio Sanguino asserts that minimum wage policy has not negatively affected Colombia's labor market.
  • Figures from February 2026 indicate the generation of 624,000 jobs and a drop in unemployment to 9.2%, the lowest this century.
  • 814,000 formal jobs were created, while informal employment decreased, lowering the informality rate to 55.3%.
  • Unemployment among women fell to 11.7% (lowest since 2010), rural unemployment to 6.8%, and youth unemployment to 16.5%.
  • The minister believes these figures demonstrate the possibility of inclusive growth and real opportunities.
  • Challenges, such as the gender gap, still persist in the labor market.