With the increase in the minimum wage in Colombia, the payment for those who provide this service may vary. Here the details.
With the new current legal minimum wage (SMLMV) for Colombia in 2026many families and employers of domestic service personnel wonder how much they must legally pay those who perform this service. The increase in the minimum wage directly impacts income month, day or houras well as the social benefits and social security contributions required by law.
Below, we explain what you need to know to comply with labor regulations and respect the rights of employees. domestic workers in 2026.
How much is the minimum wage for a domestic worker in 2026?
The legal monthly minimum wage in force for 2026 in Colombia was set at approximately $1,746,882 pesosnot including transportation assistance. This value serves as a basic reference to calculate the payment of a full-time domestic workerwhether internal or external.
In addition to the basic salary, the workers who They do not live at the employer’s home have the right to transportation assistancewhich by 2026 equivalent to $249,095, nearly $8,437 pesos daily when paid by days.
This minimum wage is also used as a basis for calculating social benefits such as service premiums, vacations, severance pay and interest on severance pay.
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How much should a domestic worker be paid per month, day and hour?
1. Per month:A domestic worker who works full time must receive at least $1,746,882 pesos per month. If you do not reside in the employer’s home, you must add the transportation assistanceaccording to the current amount.
2. Per day worked: For those who work on a daily basis, the minimum daily wage is obtained by dividing the monthly wage by 30 days, which is equivalent to approximately $58,229 pesos per day. When adding daily transportation assistance, the minimum payment can be around $66,700 pesos per day in 2026.
3. Per hour: The hourly payment is calculated in proportion to the minimum wage and the agreed working day. Although it may vary depending on the agreement between the parties, the minimum legal amount established by labor law.
Eye! These values correspond to the legal monthly minimum wage in force for 2026. In many cases, employers agree on higher payments depending on the experience, functions or responsibilities of the worker, therefore, according to this amount, the corresponding calculations must be made according to each scenario.
What other obligations does the employer have with a domestic employee?
In addition to the salary and transportation assistance, the employer is obliged to comply with the social security contributions and the payment of social benefitsobligations that cannot be omitted.
Social security contributions They include health, pension and occupational risks (ARL). The value of these contributions may vary depending on the type of affiliation, with approximate amounts between $78,606 and $213,546 pesos monthlydepending on the case.
Likewise, domestic workers They are entitled to a service premium, paid in two periods a year, Paid vacations, severance pay and interest on severance pay and benefits when applicable.
