State Council suspends 23% minimum wage increase for 2026, jeopardizing government decision
Portafolio Journalist 02/13/2026 08:33 Updated: 02/13/2026 09:13
TL;DR
- The State Council provisionally suspended the decree establishing a 23% minimum wage increase for 2026.
- The court cited indications of illegality and the government's use of 'vital salary' as a primary basis for the increase.
- The government is ordered to issue a temporary decree with a new minimum wage within eight days.
- The suspension is necessary to prevent irreversible economic and legal consequences.
- The legally mandated variables for minimum wage determination include inflation, productivity, national income contribution, GDP growth, and inflation targets.
- The Council found the decree lacked sufficient explanation of the causal link between legal indicators and the 23% increase.
- Using the minimum wage to close social gaps is legitimate but must remain within the legal framework.
- A temporary administrative decision is required to avoid a regulatory vacuum.
- The Council referenced a past case (2016 minimum wage) where a decree was annulled for insufficient motivation after producing its effects.