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First modification: 02/13/2026 - 15:10 Last modification: 02/13/2026 - 19:07
The high court suspended the government decree that drastically raised the minimum wage as of January 1, 2026, a measure applauded by the benefited workers, but widely criticized by businessmen and analysts.
The Council of State of Colombia provisionally suspended the controversial decree by which President Gustavo Petro set the increase in the legal minimum wage for 2026 at 23%.
See the decision
Decree 1469 of December 29, 2025 issued by the National Government had left this legal remuneration at just over 1.75 million pesos per month (about 477 dollars at this Friday's price), which added to the transportation subsidy reached two million pesos (545 dollars).
The high court's decision also orders the issuance of a new decree in the next eight days, since the measure "does not imply a definitive ruling on the legality of the act, a matter that will be resolved in the ruling," according to a press release from the Council of State.
The transitional decree must determine the percentage increase in the minimum wage for 2026 and the corresponding total value, “which will govern until a substantive decision is made in the process.”
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"To determine this figure, the Government must fully apply the current legal and constitutional criteria, including: the inflation goal set by the Board of Directors of the Bank of the Republic; officially certified productivity; real inflation in the previous year; GDP growth; the contribution of salaries to national income; the special protection of labor; the guarantee of a minimum, vital and mobile remuneration; the social function of the company; and the constitutional objectives of managing the economy," the Council noted.
It is worth noting that the effects of the suspension "will only become effective upon the publication of the new transitional decree. While that occurs, the value of the current minimum wage continues to govern."
A measure applauded by some, criticized by others
The Government of Gustavo Petro had argued for an increase in what it called a “living wage,” which allowed “more income, increases in consumption, growth in production and higher quality jobs.”
However, for business owners, accustomed to an adjustment not much above the inflation rate, it was a severe blow to their labor costs. And economic analysts saw it as a threat to prices.
Upon learning of the decision of the Council of State, the Colombian president indicated that he respects the decision, but that the decree is in line with the country's Constitution.
"The living wage decree is ordered by the constitution. And the decree already issued has all the economic criteria that have been reflected in it, so the transitional decree requested by the magistrate, while the Council of State resolves in depth, will follow the orders of the Constitution, I will respect its decision, but I will act in accordance with the Constitution," Petro said in a message published on his platform X account.
"Out of respect for the magistrate, the Minister of Labor will hold a consultation meeting immediately and I request a meeting of the coordination of social movements to study the attitude and the new decree that will be issued," he added.
Colombia closed 2025 with an annual inflation of 5.2%, so the gap with the salary increase was more than 18 percentage points. In response, the financial market drastically raised its inflation expectations for this year and the Bank of the Republic raised interest rates by one percentage point, a rare magnitude, but “necessary,” according to its directors, given the current context.
With local media
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