2026 Minimum Wage: These Were the Reasons for Maintaining the 23% Increase According to the Ministry of Labor
Antonio Sanguino indicated that this minimum wage increase seeks to dignify workers. Photo: Courtesy - Ministry of Labor
TL;DR
- The Colombian government issued Decree 0159 on February 19th to temporarily set the 2026 minimum wage.
- The decree maintains the controversial 23% increase, resulting in a minimum wage of $1,750,905.
- This decision was made in response to a judicial order to provide a provisional administrative act while the legality of the original increase is being reviewed.
- The government justified the 23% increase by considering both traditional economic parameters (inflation, productivity, economic growth, wage share in national income) and constitutional factors, including the 'vital and mobile' nature of the minimum wage.
- Exclusive application of traditional parameters would have resulted in a 13.6% increase.
- An additional component was added based on the International Labour Organization's (ILO) living wage calculation, which identified a 23% gap between the minimum wage and a sufficient income for a dignified life.
- The Ministry of Labor, through Minister Antonio Sanguino, argued that legal parameters alone are insufficient to meet constitutional mandates for a vital and mobile salary.
- The government views the minimum wage as an instrument to improve living conditions, reduce income inequality, and strengthen domestic demand within macroeconomic sustainability.