The Government’s announcement redefines basic income in the country, poses challenges for companies and opens the debate on the cost of living, inflation and the purchasing power of millions of Colombians.
News Colombia.
Two million pesos. That will be the figure that workers who earn the minimum wage in Colombia will receive from 2026, including the transportation subsidy. The announcement was made by President Gustavo Petro, who confirmed that the increase will be 23%, one of the highest in recent years.
The adjustment represents a significant change compared to the current salary and seeks, according to the Government, to recover the purchasing power of workers in a context marked by the high cost of living, the rise in food prices and basic services.
With this increase, the minimum wage will be made up of the base salary plus transportation assistance, reaching a total of $2,000,000 per month. The measure will directly impact millions of formal employees, but will also have effects on other areas of the economy, such as rents, fines, rates and contracts that are calculated based on the minimum wage.
🔴 The living wage for 2026 will be $2,000,000
This was announced by the President @PetroGustavoexplaining that this amount is made up of a living wage of $1,750,905 and a transportation subsidy of $249,095, with the aim of improving the real income and quality of life of… pic.twitter.com/gEKpjG3XPR
— Colombian Presidency 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) December 30, 2025
The announcement is already generating divided reactions. While labor sectors celebrate the increase as an advance in salary dignity, some business unions warn of possible pressures for small and medium-sized companies and a possible impact on inflation.
In the coming months, more details will be known about the implementation of the increase and the measures that will accompany this decision, which already marks the economic and social debate for 2026.
