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Mexico and U.S. States Set 2026 Minimum Wage Hikes as Argentina’s Pay Rebounds Unevenly

New wage floors across North America signal a push to restore purchasing power in the year ahead.

Overview

  • Mexico’s 2026 minimum wages take effect on January 1 at 315.04 pesos per day nationwide and 440.87 pesos in the northern border zone, confirmed by the labor ministry.
  • New York will lift hourly minimums on January 1, 2026, to $17 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and to $16 in the rest of the state, with automatic inflation indexing beginning in 2027.
  • Several U.S. states also raise minimums on January 1, 2026, including Washington ($17.13), California ($16.90), Connecticut ($16.94), Hawaii and Rhode Island ($16), and others moving toward or above $15.
  • In Argentina, job seekers’ requested pay rose 39.85% between January and November 2025—about 12 points above cumulative inflation—while executive salaries ended 2025 up 35%, exceeding the projected CPI by 7.8 points.
  • Argentine unions sealed strong early‑2026 deals, including oilseed workers setting a $2,344,000 starting basic pay, metalworkers securing a 4.2% update plus a $15,000 bonus, and plastic workers agreeing to a 13.25% cumulative increase by February.