Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Mexico Finalizes 2026 Minimum Wage Hike With 13% National Increase

The government says the change, effective Jan. 1, will help restore buying power for about 8.5 million workers.

Overview

  • The general minimum wage will rise to 315.04 pesos per day nationwide, while the Free Northern Border rate will increase 5% to 440.87 pesos per day.
  • Officials frame the move as part of a multi‑year strategy to recover purchasing power, estimating a 154% rebound versus 2018 and coverage of two basic baskets in 2026, with 2.8 baskets on the border.
  • Authorities say roughly 8.5 million people will directly benefit, and the agreement was reached by government, employer groups and unions through Conasami.
  • The increase applies directly to legal minimum earners, but workers already above the minimum are not guaranteed the same percentage raise because adjustments depend on contracts and employer decisions.
  • Experts highlight uneven regional effects—particularly in the highly integrated northern border economy—and warn that sustaining gains will require productivity improvements, support for small firms and progress on proposed labor reforms such as a gradual shift toward a 40‑hour workweek.