After suspension of the minimum wage, Fenalco will now attend the new negotiation table, did they have a change of heart?

Following the State Council's ruling that suspended the minimum wage increase for 2026, the Ministry of Labor convened a consultation meeting between business associations and labor unions. One of the novelties is that Fenalco will be present at this meeting.

After suspension of the minimum wage, Fenalco will now attend the new negotiation table, did they have a change of heart?

TL;DR

  • The Ministry of Labor has convened a new minimum wage negotiation meeting for February 16th after the State Council suspended the 2026 increase.
  • Fenalco, a business association, will attend this meeting after having boycotted previous negotiations.
  • Fenalco's previous absence was due to the government announcing the wage increase before official deliberations, which they argued undermined the institutional process.
  • The upcoming meeting will discuss a transitional decree on the minimum wage, based on economic indicators suggesting a marginal impact on inflation.
  • The government also plans to meet with social movements to gauge their position on the new decree.