Domestic Workers: New Salary Increase Expected in Argentina – 2026 Update

Argentina’s domestic workers are poised for another wage increase as inflation continues to accelerate. The National Commission on Function in Private Homes is currently negotiating adjustments expected to exceed previous increases.

March 9, 2026 – 10:15 PM

The wages for domestic workers in Argentina began the year with adjustments, following increases in February and March of 2026. The National Commission on Work in Private Homes is now preparing to negotiate further adjustments for April, with the aim of securing a fresh increase reflected in paychecks in early May.

During these upcoming negotiations, the commission will assess the impact of price increases from the first quarter and define a new scheme of increases for the April-May period. The goal is to ensure wages remain above the total basic basket cost. With January’s inflation rate around 2.9%, and February’s figures pending, expectations are for an increase larger than the previously agreed-upon 3% spread over two months.

Domestic Worker Pay in March 2026

For March, domestic staff are receiving the second installment of the agreed-upon increase, amounting to 1.5% on current wages. The wage scale for Category Five – general household tasks – the most common category, is set at $3,348.37 per hour for employees with retirement benefits and $3,599.86 for those without.

Monthly basic salaries for this category are $410,773.52 and $455,160.14, respectively. These figures represent the legal minimum and serve as a reference for wage payments, often made in early April. The additional payment for seniority, at 1% per year of service with the same employer, and a 30% bonus for those residing in the south of the country, remain in effect.

Additional Bonuses Paid in March

Alongside the percentage increase, a one-time, non-remunerative bonus is being paid in March. The amount of this bonus depends solely on the worker’s declared weekly working hours, according to the CNTCP:

• $8,000 for those working less than 12 hours per week.

• $11,500 for those working between 12 and 16 hours per week.

• $20,000 for those working more than 16 hours per week or under a non-live-in arrangement.