A few days ago, the Minister of Labor and Employment Promotion, Daniel Maurate, declared to the media that the minimum wage in our country could be increased in the second half of 2024, as long as the growth trend of the economy is maintained. and the development of private investment.
But Maurate was not the only one to speak out on the matter. During the presentation of the Inflation Report, the president of the Central Reserve Bank, Julio Velarde, considered that the increase in the minimum vital remuneration should be based on technical criteria and not only political decisions. And two congressmen of the Republic have presented bills to declare the increase in this income of public interest.
Congress proposes that the minimum wage be increased: by how much?
From 2003 to the present, the minimum living wage has increased by S/615. The last time this amount was adjusted in our country was in May 2022 during the government of former President Pedro Castillo, when it went from S/930 to S/1,025. Since then, the National Labor Council (CNTPE) has not been able to reach a consensus formula for technical review.
Although this body is in charge of institutionalizing its calculation and giving the green light to a final proposal, Congress promotes declarative regulations in this regard that are not binding. The first of them is a bill that seeks to increase the minimum living wage from S/1,025 to S/1,500. Its author is the parliamentarian Gustavo Cordero Jon Tay, who justifies his initiative in the increase of products and services that serve to satisfy the main needs.
“It is declared of national interest and public necessity that the National Council of Labor and Employment Promotion, with the participation of representative organizations of workers and employers, evaluates the increase in the minimum vital remuneration for a concept equal to or greater than S/475, for workers subject to the labor regime of private activity, with which the minimum vital remuneration would go from S/1,025 to S/1,500”, states in article 3 of bill No. 8123/2023-CR.
The second proposal was prepared by the office of the third vice president of Parliament, Waldemar Cerrón. Through this bill, it is proposed to declare ‘national interest’ and ‘public need’ the automatic readjustment of the minimum vital remuneration to 30% of the Tax Tax Unit (UIT), which is set at S/5,150. This means that This income would go from S/1,025 to S/1,545.
The second proposal was prepared by the office of the third vice president of Parliament, Waldemar Cerrón. Through this bill, it is proposed to declare ‘national interest’ and ‘public need’ the automatic readjustment of the minimum vital remuneration to 30% of the Tax Tax Unit (UIT), which is set at S/5,150. This means that this income would go from S/1,025 to S/1,545.
According to the explanatory memorandum of said bill, “updating the RMV is essential to guarantee that workers can satisfy their basic needs. The current minimum wage does not adequately cover the basic family basket, which highlights the need for periodic adjustments to ensure a decent life for workers. The RMV must evolve in accordance with productivity and inflation, as well as other economic variables such as unemployment and informality.”
Minister of Labor responds to Congress’ proposal to increase the minimum wage
In relation to the legislative proposals promoted by Congress to increase the RMV, the Minister of Labor, Daniel Maurate, maintained that the adjustment of this income for the second half of the year is conditional on the recovery of the economy and “It must be looked at technically and not only from the political side.”
“It will have to be an agreement between employers and workers, because that has to be an increase from a technical perspective. We do not only have to look at the political side, much less in a populist way. We cannot make an irresponsible increase. We have to see that the economy continue to grow and this increase has to be rational and technical, so that it does not deform informality,” he said.
For his part, the president of the Central Reserve Bank, Julio Velarde, agreed with Maurate that the increase in the basic salary must be based on “technical criteria” and not only correspond to a political decision. To do this, it is important that the methodology is predictable and takes into account labor market conditions.
“What we have always sought is that there are clear criteria for increasing the minimum wage, that it is not a political decision and that it is adjusted every two years, or the period that is established. Before elections or for political reasons. Make it something more predictable. Also seeing what is happening in the labor market,” he noted.
Source: Larepublica
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
