Salarium Minimun 23
The minimum wage increase for 2026 defined last December was 23%. Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- The word 'salary' originates from 'salarium,' referring to salt, which was crucial for food preservation and was used as currency and an antiseptic in ancient times.
- During the Middle Ages and industrialization, salt's role as currency diminished, replaced by precious metals, and it became primarily an ingredient in food processing.
- Historically, there was no concept of a legal minimum wage; workers in slavery, serfdom, and feudal systems often received only basic living provisions.
- Legal minimum wages were established in the United States in 1912 and Colombia in 1945, with further unification of concepts in Colombia in 1983.
- Economist Joan Robinson's concept of 'Monopolistic Equilibrium' describes how producers can set a single price for a wage market, similar to commodities like oil or gold.
- Nobel laureate David Card's research suggests minimum wage increases can lead to reduced employment and higher unemployment.
- In Colombia, a significant portion of the population earns the minimum wage, and recent substantial increases can impact businesses and the financial health of workers.
- While higher earners may not struggle with the direct wage increase, their purchasing power can be affected by inflation (IPC).
- Business conglomerates can absorb salary increases through financial profits, but these profits are vital for national development.