The government of Mendoza has implemented a new salary adjustment for the province’s police and penitentiary personnel, including both active-duty officers, and retirees. Formalized through Decree No. 628 on March 30, 2026, the measure introduces a phased pay increase and a restructuring of basic salary components.
Phased Salary Increases
The new compensation scheme provides a total increase of 10%, distributed in two non-cumulative stages. According to the decree, the first phase consists of a 7% raise, which began appearing in paychecks for March 2026. This figure is calculated based on the salary assignment of the Police Chief as of December 31, 2025.
A second increase of 3% is scheduled to take effect with the May 2026 payroll. Government officials clarified that these percentages are not cumulative, as both are calculated using the same December 2025 salary base.
Integration of Remunerative Bonuses
Beyond the percentage hikes, the administration is modifying the composition of the basic salary. Starting in April 2026, the remaining 50% of “item 2626″—a remunerative additional created under Law No. 7237—will be fully integrated into the basic pay.
This structural change is significant since it directly increases the base used to calculate seniority, other salary additions, and payments for extraordinary services. This integration effectively amplifies the total income boost for affected personnel. These adjustments to additional payments and extraordinary services will be reflected in the month following their implementation.
Executive Decision and Context
The pay raises were established unilaterally by the executive branch under Governor Alfredo Cornejo. Although the scheme mirrors agreements reached with other state sectors, police and penitentiary workers do not participate in the standard collective bargaining processes (paritarias), necessitating a direct decree from the government.
The move underscores the administration’s effort to stabilize the purchasing power of security forces through a combination of percentage increases and the conversion of temporary bonuses into permanent basic salary. The adjustments extend to all ranks, as well as pensioners and retired members of the sector.
