Following the decision of the Council of State, the Executive will define a new percentage in dialogue with employers and workers.
News Colombia.
The provisional suspension of the decree that established the increase in the minimum wage for 2026 opened a new chapter in the country’s labor policy. The decision, adopted by the high administrative court, forced the national government to urgently convene a consultation table with employers and workers to define a new percentage, while the underlying process is resolved.
The Minister of Labor, Antonio Sanguino, confirmed in an interview with Noticias Caracol that the Executive will issue a new transitional decree within the established period. The official did not rule out that the increase in the minimum wage could remain at high levels and even exceed the percentage initially set, which was around 23%, depending on the result of the agreement.
The measure was taken by the Council of State, which provisionally suspended the 2026 minimum wage decree while it studies a lawsuit regarding its legality. The decision does not imply the definitive cancellation of the increase, but rather a temporary pause that requires the establishment of a transitional formula.
In practical terms, payments made based on the previously decreed increase should not be reversed. However, the new decree issued by the Government will be key to determining the current percentage while a final ruling is issued.
The negotiation table
After the suspension, the Government convened the Commission for Coordination of Salary and Labor Policies, a scenario in which representatives of workers, employers and the State participate. The objective is to define a new adjustment that meets legal and constitutional criteria, especially the principle of a “vital and mobile” salary.
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Minister Sanguino defended the need to protect the purchasing power of workers and assured that the Executive will seek a balanced decision that responds to both the economic reality and the social conditions of the country.
The new decree could maintain a high increase, adjust it slightly or establish a different temporary figure, depending on the consensus reached. Factors such as inflation, productivity, formal employment and business stability will influence the final decision.
