Minimum Wage
Fiscal Risks and Anti-Inflation Measures After Colombia's 2026 Minimum Wage Decree
Imeripotiwa na AI Picha iliyoundwa na AI
The Autonomous Fiscal Rule Committee (Carf) warns that the recent 23% minimum wage hike to $2 million—decreed on December 30—could cost $5.3 trillion in 2026 (0.3% of GDP), complicating fiscal sustainability. Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino announced plans to desindex key goods from the wage and provide SME relief to curb inflation.
The year 2025 serves as a key lesson for UMR-income workers facing the 'gaji numpang lewat' phenomenon, where salaries vanish in days due to rising living costs and digital consumption trends. Financial planners believe this can be addressed through financial discipline and understanding daily spending patterns. Expert Rista Zwestika suggests simple strategies to break the cycle.
Imeripotiwa na AI
Thousands of workers protested at Jakarta's Presidential Palace on December 29-30, 2025, against the recently announced 2026 Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) of Rp5,729,876—a 6.17% increase deemed insufficient by unions. Led by KSPI President Said Iqbal, the two-day action drew heavy police security amid guarantees of free expression.
Saudi Arabia has announced a new minimum wage of 1,000 Saudi Riyals (about Ksh34,455) for all workers, including Kenyans, effective February 2026. This reform aims to protect foreign employees previously without official pay guarantees. The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh has urged workers to verify compliance with their employers.