The Minister of Economy and Finance, Elmer Cuba, reported that the increase in the Minimum Living Wage (RMV), announced by Keiko Fujimori during her Address to the Nation on July 28, will be applied progressively. The measure contemplates raising the minimum wage until it reaches S/1,300. The Government proposes this mechanism to avoid a sharp impact on inflation. Likewise, it seeks to reduce the possible difficulties that the increase could generate in micro and small businesses. According to what Cuba explained, the increase will be carried out in two stages to reach the new established amount. The first increase will be S/100, while the second will rise to S/70. In this way, the RMV will gradually go from its current value to the announced S/1,300. The strategy aims to balance the improvement of workers’ incomes with the stability of prices and business costs.
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This is the date indicated by the Minister of Economy and Finance regarding the minimum wage increase
The minimum wage increase does not yet have a defined date, despite the Government already announcing its intention to progressively raise the RMV. The Minister of Economy, Elmer Cuba, pointed out that the schedule will be coordinated with the Minister of Labor, Juan Sheput, who took office on July 28. The proposal must go through a dialogue stage before it is known when it will begin to be applied. The proposal will be taken to the National Labor Council (CNT), a space that brings together representatives of employers and workers. There the Executive’s proposal will be discussed before defining the next steps.
The debate on a possible increase in the Minimum Living Wage (RMV) was addressed last Thursday, September 3, at the National Council of Labor and Employment Promotion (CNTPE), according to the Minister of Labor, Juan Sheput. In this meeting, the approved wage measure was discussed; however, no agreement was reached on the date or modality of the increase.
What has been the objective for which a decision was made about this wage increase?
Cuba explained that the increase in the RMV seeks to strengthen the purchasing power of workers who receive the minimum wage. To reach the new planned figure, the increase will be divided into two stages: a first of S/100 and a second of S/70. The strategy aims to prevent the adjustment from generating an immediate impact on the economy. With this, the Government seeks to apply the measure gradually.
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Likewise, he stated that splitting the increase will reduce possible effects on inflation and the prices of goods and services. He also pointed out that it seeks to avoid the increase raising labor costs too much and limiting hiring in smaller companies. In this context, he reaffirmed that micro and small businesses will receive support measures during the implementation of the new RMV. The proposal seeks to balance a wage improvement with economic and business stability.
The increase to S/1,300 is insufficient for workers, so it should be raised to S/1,500
The General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP) considers that raising the Minimum Living Wage to S/1,300 would not be enough to cover workers’ needs. The union argues that the new amount should have a closer relationship with the real cost of living. In response to the Government’s proposal, the union center proposes a higher figure as an immediate increase. Its demand aims to set the minimum wage at S/1,500. The CGTP’s position also generates tension around the wage increase discussion process. After the Government announced that it would take the proposal to the National Labor Council (CNT), the union requested to avoid the increase being subject to new negotiations. For the organization, the RMV improvement should be realized without further delays. Thus, the debate faces the official proposal of S/1,300 against a union demand of S/1,500.
