A wage increase taking effect this month is providing a financial boost to thousands of workers in Chile. As of January 1, the minimum wage has been adjusted to $539,000 Chilean pesos per month for those between the ages of 18 and 65, a rise of $10,000 pesos from the previous rate.
The increase is part of a phased series of adjustments aimed at strengthening the purchasing power of workers in the face of the current economic climate, continuing an upward trend that began in 2022.
Wage Adjustments for Other Age Groups
The adjustment wasn’t limited to the primary wage bracket. Workers under 18 and those over 65 were also included in the wage update. For this group, the minimum monthly income is now $402,082 pesos, an increase of $7,460 pesos.
With these figures, the minimum wage continues to move away from the $350,000 pesos in effect in May 2022, reflecting agreements reached between the government and the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) in recent years.
Future Wage Increases Under Consideration
Although the latest increase took effect just weeks ago, another date is already set on the legislative agenda. According to Law 21.751, the President of the Republic must submit a new bill to the National Congress no later than April 2026, proposing a further adjustment to the minimum monthly income.
The initiative will also include updates to family and maternity allowances, as well as the family subsidy, with the goal of having the new values take effect on May 1, 2026. To determine the amounts, the Executive Branch must consider the guidelines of the Higher Labor Council, seeking consistency between wage growth and the country’s economic situation.
This upcoming process will be key for nearly 900,000 workers nationwide, who could see their incomes adjusted again during the first half of the year.
