The distance between employers and workers is growing, which is why the option of the national government decree is gaining strength.
this monday December 15 the first legal deadline expires to reach an agreement on the increase of the minimum wage for 2026. The definition will be given in the Coordination Table for Labor and Salary Policiesin the midst of a scenario marked by the distance between the proposals of workers and employers, which increases the probability that the adjustment will finally be defined by decree of the National Government.
While the labor confederations proposed an increase in 16%the businessmen proposed an increase in the 7.21%a difference that has made progress towards agreement difficult.
This was warned by the president of the Unitary Central of Workers (CUT), Fabio Ariaswho assured that expectations are growing around this meeting. If a consensus is not achieved, the way would be opened for the Executive to make the decision unilaterally.
Arias stated that the labor confederations would only be willing to resume negotiations if the business proposal exceeds double digits. “If businessmen go up to double digits, it doesn’t matter what number, but if it is greater than 11% It would be a great step. If they don’t rise to double digits, let’s not even sit down,” he said.
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The union leader described the distance with the business unions as “total” and questioned the approach of the 7.21%considering that it does not respond to the real needs of the workers. “If 7.21 seems generous to Cabal, then what is not generous? It doesn’t have any generosity,” he said.
Arias stated that he sees it as highly probable that the minimum wage of 2026 be defined by decree. “I believe that there will be no agreement and that the Government will be left with a free hand to define the salary increase,” he said, while expressing his expectation that the Executive will adopt a “generous” decision towards the workers.
The labor confederations maintain their proposal of 16%supported—according to Arias—in studies from the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the minimum living wage. He even announced a public hearing for the same December 15 in the morning hours, in which they expect the ILO to present these analyzes as technical support for the union petition.
The meeting of the negotiation table is scheduled for after 2:00 in the afternoon.
For his part, the president of the Colombian Farmers Society (SAC), Jorge Bedoyadefended the business position and reiterated that the union maintains the spirit of consultation. He highlighted that the meeting with the Minister of Labor and the Government team was “frank” and with a willingness to dialogue.
Bedoya stressed that the discussion of the minimum wage not only impacts the 2.4 million workers that earn the minimum, but also at more than 11 million people who earn less than that income and 13 million who are in informal employment.
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“A bad decision can have a negative impact on the entire Colombian labor market,” he warned.
Faced with the demand to raise the business proposal to double digits, Bedoya was clear that they will not accept conditions to sit down to negotiate. “This commission must bring us all to the table, not to an exchange of numerical positions. Our analysis is based on variables that affect the entire economy,” he explained.
The union leader confirmed that the talks will continue on Monday in a tripartite meeting with the Ministry of Labor, in a last attempt to bring positions closer together before the Government must define the increase by decree.
With the clock against and positions still distant, the debate on the minimum wage for 2026 It is emerging as one of the most tense in recent years, in a scenario where agreement seems increasingly difficult and the final decision could remain in the hands of the Executive.
Source: Integrated Information System
