President Santiago Peña announced a 5% increase in the Paraguayan minimum wage, doubling the accumulated inflation of 2.4% over the past 12 months, raising the floor from G. 2,899,048 to approximately G. 3,044,000, after the National Minimum Wage Council (Conasam) failed to reach a consensus between unions, which demanded between 20% and 22%, and the business sector, which advocated for an adjustment limited to inflation.
Consejo Nacional de Salarios Mínimos
Pytagua coverage mentioning Consejo Nacional de Salarios Mínimos.
Workers are demanding a 20% increase in Paraguay's legal minimum wage, while business owners are pushing for a 2.4% adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Central Bank of Paraguay. The final decision rests with President Santiago Peña following the sixth meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council (Conasam) scheduled for this Wednesday.
Minimum wage negotiations in Paraguay remain stalled after workers reiterated their demand for a 20% increase and the business sector refused to submit a counterproposal until inflation data is released by the Central Bank.
Representatives of workers, employers, and the Ministry of Labor failed to reach a consensus on the calculation of the annual adjustment to the legal minimum wage (SML) during a debate on the program Políticamente Yncorrecto. Minister Mónica Recalde argued for considering multiple variables, while the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP) and workers insisted on specific legal criteria.
The National Minimum Wage Council (Conasam) faces an impasse over the minimum wage adjustment, with employers advocating strict application of the law based on the CPI and workers demanding a 22% increase. The government is considering modernizing the basic basket, while unions accuse the Central Bank of manipulating inflation.