Colombia's Ministry of Labor announced the schedule for 2026 minimum wage discussions, starting December 1. Sessions will run through December 29, with government decree possible on December 30 if no agreement is reached. Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino stressed the need for an increase that boosts workers' real income.
Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino unveiled the proposed schedule for the 2026 minimum wage negotiation table. Discussions will start on December 1 at 8 a.m. with the table's installation at the Ministry of Labor, where Dane will present GDP up to the third quarter of 2025, national transfer accounts, and labor market data.
On December 5, Dane will release the IPC. On December 9, sessions resume with additional Dane data on IPC and key figures, alongside macroeconomic context from the Ministry of Finance, the Banco de la República's inflation forecast, and increment proposals from the Permanent Commission on Wage and Labor Policies.
Sessions continue on December 11 and 12, with the first legal deadline on December 15. Reservations from each party will be presented December 16-17, and studied December 18-19. From December 22-26 (excluding December 25 for Christmas), extraordinary sessions will occur, extending to December 29. If no agreement, the government will decree the wage on December 30.
Sanguino referenced OIT estimates that a dignified minimum wage for a family of four should be $3 million, covering basics like food and clothing. Since Gustavo Petro's presidency began, the minimum wage has risen 37.6%, including 16% in the first year amid 13% inflation. GDP grew 3.6% in Q3 2025 versus 2024, the highest in three years, and unemployment hit 8.2% in September, the century's lowest. October inflation stood at 5.51%.
"We still owe workers a vital minimum wage. The National Government will maintain a commitment to increasing next year's minimum," Sanguino stated. CUT President Fabio Arias Giraldo confirmed the timeline through December 15.