While many celebrate the adjustment of the minimum wage, a key sector of the workforce in Medellín and all of Colombia asks: “And why didn’t they raise me the same? If your salary is in the range of 2 to 3 million pesos, the legal reality is different and here we explain why your pocket could feel the “brake.”
1. It is not mandatory to apply the same percentage
Unlike those who earn exactly one minimum wage (whose adjustment is automatic by law), for employees who earn more than that figure there is no legal obligation to receive the same 23% increase.
According to the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, the employer is only obliged to maintain the “purchasing power”, which generally translates into an adjustment equivalent to inflation (CPI) and not necessarily to the increase in the minimum.
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Experts consulted by Minuto30 warn about the phenomenon of loss of salary competitiveness.
The fact: If the minimum wage rises aggressively and salaries of 2 or 3 million only increase the CPI, the gap between an unskilled worker and a technician or professional is reduced.
Consequence: This generates demotivation and what economists call the “erosion of the working middle class.”
3. What can you legally demand?
If you earn, for example, $2,500,000, your boss could decide to raise only the previous year’s CPI (which was less than the minimum increase). However, there are three scenarios where you could claim:
Collective Pact or Convention: If in your company there are unions or signed agreements that require leveling according to the minimum.
Contractual clauses: Review your contract; If it says that your salary will be adjusted according to the SMLV, they must comply.
Right to equality: In cases where inflation exceeds the adjustment granted, a real loss of purchasing capacity could be alleged.
People who earn between $2 to 3 million could be the most affected by the increase in the minimum
The payroll payment for an independent who contributes above a minimum will be $507,000 per month.
This is a slap in the face for the middle class that barely managed to contribute to social security.
If contributing to a pension was difficult, now it will be a luxury for a few.
— Jerome (@SoyJerome__) December 30, 2025