Labour Minister Juan Sheput said Peru's minimum wage increase to 1,300 soles does not yet have a set implementation date.
Speaking to Peruvian radio station RPP, Sheput explained that the wage hike is currently framed in two parts and will be formally debated by the National Labour Council starting September 3. He noted that both business leaders and trade unions have shown full willingness to move the proposal forward, though the exact month for its rollout cannot yet be established.
Differing Timelines
The minister's position marks a departure from a preliminary schedule previously announced by Economy Minister Elmer Cuba. Under Cuba's proposal, workers would have received an initial increase of 100 soles between October and November, followed by a second increase of 70 soles after the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The broader plan to raise the country's monthly minimum vital wage from 1,130 soles to 1,300 soles was first announced by President Keiko Fujimori during her address on July 28, a date when Peruvian leaders traditionally outline major economic policy goals. To help companies handle higher labor costs, Fujimori also proposed a financial bonus targeted specifically at micro and small enterprises, known in Peru as mypes.
Formal Employment and Business Support
Sheput maintained that raising the legal minimum wage to 1,300 soles would contribute to boosting formal employment across the country. The National Labour Council acts as Peru's central tripartite forum, bringing together state officials, business representatives, and trade unions to negotiate employment policy and wage adjustments.
He added that the targeted subsidy for micro and small businesses will help reduce the economic impact of the wage rise on smaller firms. Micro and small enterprises represent a major segment of Peru's economy, and the government aims to buffer them against sudden operational cost increases as the wage adjustment is finalized.
