The Employers' Chamber of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX) proposed a 12 percent increase for the minimum wage during 2025, as stated by José Medina Mora, president of the business chamber. This increase was supported by Claudia Sheinbaum, who assumed the presidency in October and also expressed her intention to seek a 12 percent increase in the minimum wage for 2025.
This proposal needs to be approved by the National Commission of Minimum Wages (CONASAMI), which will meet next December to discuss it. During the 2024 Labor Forum, the president of COPARMEX reminded that during the period 2016-2024, the minimum wage increased by 130 percent, thanks to collaboration with the Mexican Government.
José Medina Mora emphasized that before 2016, there was a correlation between the minimum wage and the prices of approximately 2,000 products and services, which generated inflation and diminished the purchasing power of workers. Therefore, an increase in the wage is expected for 2026.
Regarding the renegotiation of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (T-MEC) in 2026, an evaluation of the functioning of the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism is expected. Juan Carlos de la Vega, managing partner of Santamarina and Steta, mentioned that several aspects must be improved to provide confidence to entrepreneurs concerning this T-MEC instrument.
Mora also highlighted that thanks to the introduction of the Measurement and Updating Unit (UMA) and the separation of the minimum wage, COPARMEX has been able to propose gradual increases in the minimum wage each year. These increases should be staggered to avoid inflation and informality, especially in small businesses and microenterprises.
Currently, the minimum wage guarantees coverage of a basic food and non-food basket for workers, and the objective is for two minimum wages to support a family of four in terms of well-being.
