Colombia’s national government announced Thursday the increase in 3.64 percent to the country’s minimum wage from 2010 bringing the basic pay figure to COP514,987 (US$252).
The increase in basic pay, to come into effect from January 1 will mean COP18,100 monthly. Employers had proposed 3.2 percent while labour unions demanded 8 percent and the Finance Ministry had raised it by 3 percent. However, President Alvaro Uribe stated that the increase should “rationally” be superior to the inflation rate.
The wage increase, of exactly 3.64258 percent, will benefit about four million workers in the country, reported news station Caracol Radio.
To the COP515,000, must be added an increase in transport allowance, which is paid to those earning up to a maximum of the equivalent of two minimum wages.
The monthly travel allowance was set a COP61,500 with an increase of 3.7099 percent.
