Colombia’s Petro Government to Decree 2026 Minimum Wage Increase After Talks Collapse
Colombia’s government will be forced to unilaterally set the minimum wage for 2026 after negotiations between business leaders and worker representatives failed to produce an agreement on Thursday.This marks the 19th time the government has had to intervene in setting the wage, and the third instance during the administration of President Gustavo Petro.
The breakdown in talks leaves the future earnings of millions of Colombian workers uncertain. While the Petro government has yet to announce it’s proposed increase,the ministers of Interior and Labor have indicated that any rise will be at least in the double digits.
The current impasse stems from vastly different proposals. Unions advocated for a minimum increase of 16%, which would bring the monthly wage to 1.8 million pesos.In contrast, employer groups proposed a 7.2% increase – less than half of what workers were seeking.
This is not the frist time the Petro administration has faced difficulty in reaching a consensus on the minimum wage. The president was only able to secure an agreement through negotiation for the 2023 increase.
“As was to be expected, there was not going to be an agreement and obviously there was no agreement,” stated a representative from the unitary Central of Workers (CUT). “The willingness of businessmen is always to stick to some very technical factors.”
The government’s decision will likely be met with resistance from business groups, who argue that substantial wage increases could harm economic growth and competitiveness. The final decree is expected in the coming weeks, and will undoubtedly shape the economic landscape for Colombian workers in 2026.
