Tuesday, February 17, 2026-Colombia’s government announced Monday it will issue a temporary decree to uphold its planned 2026 minimum wage increase after the country’s highest administrative court provisionally suspended the original wage hike decree. The suspension left millions of workers in legal uncertainty and prompted President Gustavo Petro’s administration to act quickly to maintain the historic raise while complying with the court’s ruling.
The legal dispute centers on a 23.7 % increase announced late last year, which would have been one of the largest wage jumps in decades. The Council of State paused the measure after questioning the economic basis used to justify the increase and required a new decree with clearer legal and economic reasoning within eight days. Officials say the transitional decree will allow the wage hike to remain in effect temporarily while the legality of the original decision is addressed.
Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino and government leaders reaffirmed their intention to defend the increase and are coordinating with unions and business representatives to build support for the new decree. The move comes amid broader economic pressures in Colombia, including inflation concerns and upcoming elections, making the minimum wage debate a central issue in public and political discourse.
0 Comments