Guatemala
More than a salary: diets, office expenses, personnel hiring and even private medical insurance. Know how the salary of deputies is composed and the other benefits that Congress covers for them.
In addition to their base salary, the 160 deputies receive diets, office expenses, personnel hiring and private medical insurance. (Free Press Photo: Esbin García)
The Congress of the Republic made public the February 2025 formwhich reveals a significant increase in salaries of the 160 deputies.
The issue has generated in recent weeks a broad debate in society due to figures and their impact on state finances.
This salary increase is relevant because it corresponds to the First form which reflects the increase in the base salary of the deputies, which went from Q9 thousand 550 to Q46 thousand 700 monthly, which means that his salary multiplied almost by five.
However, Deputies not only receive their salarybut also have certain expenses related to their legislative performance, which are funded by taxpayers.
How much does a deputy win in Guatemala?
In addition to their base salary, the deputies of the Guatemala Congress receive several additional amounts that increase their income.
Among these compensations are:
- Representation expenses: Deputies receive a monthly assignment to cover expenses related to their official representation. Each of the 160 deputies receives a payment of Q5 thousand which represents a total per month of Q800 thousand.
- Representation expenses for the Board of Directors: The nine members The directive of the Congress receives, additional to the previous amount, another figure that varies according to the position. The President receives Q20 thousand; The three vice presidents, Q15 thousand each, and the five secretaries, Q10 thousand each. This adds Q115 thousand.
- Diets for sessions assistance: For participating in Plenary sessions, deputies receive additional payments known as diets. Each receives Q9 thousand 600although not everyone attends in their entirety. This represents a cost of more than Q1.5 million.
By adding representation expenses and full assistance diets, each deputy could even receive Q66 thousand 300.
In the case of members of the Board of Directors, the amounts are even greater due to additional payments.
Other payments
- Diets for participating in work commissions: Monthly, congressmen receive 5 thousand quetzales for participating in these instances. Being part of the commissions is regulated in article 28 of the Organic Law of the Legislative, and its objective is to prepare laws and review proposals. For this concept, they join Q800 thousand to the monthly payroll.
- Blocks and block subjefes session: For attending these meetings, in which the agenda issues that will be discussed in the plenary are established, they also receive an extra between Q3 thousand and 5 thousand for participating in weekly meetings. At the moment, 29 deputies They are part of this instance and receive this additional payment.
- Board of Directors sessions: The nine deputies that make up the Board receive different remuneration for attending these sessions, between Q6 thousand and 8 thousand.
Also read: Executive corrects error and publishes again amounts of the minimum wage for 2025
Salary of Deputies
With the readjustment and increase of the base salary, these are the amounts they will perceive:
- Q46 thousand 700 of base salary (previously Q9 thousand 550).
- Q5 thousand for representation expenses.
- Q9 thousand 600 for plenary session diets.
- Total accrued: Q61 thousand 300 .
To the above, an income of Q5 thousand by work commission diets, which raises the amount to Q66 thousand 300. If they are bosses or bench subjefes, they add up Q2 thousand which raises the total to Q68 thousand 300.
Other expenses covered
- Personnel hiring: Each deputy has the right to hire three people: an secretary, an advisor and an assistant. The number can be higher as required.
- Office expenses: Legislative blocks receive budget allocations for the rental of private offices, although not all deputies use this benefit.
- Child box for commissions: Deputies who preside over commissions are entitled to a small box to cover minor expenses related to their legislative work.
- Medical Insurance: In addition, deputies have medical insurance. Only a minimum of them has renounced this benefit. The policy reached a cost of Q15.8 million In 2022.
- Feeding: For many years, the legislature invested in a feeding item for congressmen during Plenary sessions. On average, this expense was Q4.7 million annual. Due to pressures and social rejection, this expense was suppressed since 2024.
Also read: Analysts: Thus can the deputies reverse their salary increase from the plenary