The CNS is made up of two holders and two alternates from the three sectors such as Government, Employer and Labor, it is the one that receives in September the proposal of minimum wage For next year issued by the parity commissions, it discusses and votes about it and delivers the report to the Mentrab, and it transfers it to the President of the Republic who makes the final decision.
Every year the appointment is carried out in January and the CNS begins to meet in February however this 2025 was different and said appointment occurred until May.
Two holders and two substitutes of the three sectors are appointed: government, employer and work. And enters into force one day after publication.
The Presidency of the Commission will be in charge of a representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Mentrab), whether the general director of Labor or the Head of the Technical Council and Advice of said institution.
As representatives of the Government sector, the holders are the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Employment, a position that is currently occupied by María Victoria Claudia Nineth Peneleu and the Deputy Minister of Labor Administration, whose position exercises Damarkys Nohemí Oliva García, as well as the substitutes who are the director of Labor Statistics and the Director of Promotion of Labor Legality.
The titular representatives of the Trade Union Entities are Luis Antulio Alpírez Guzmán and Franky Armando Pozuelos Molina, and the alternates Ángel Rafael Segura García and Adolfo Laces Palomo.
In the case of trade unions and employer unions are George Frederick Lewis Ockelmann and José Alejandro Ceballos Chacón, while the substitutes are Guido Doménico Ricci Muadi and Charles Dennis Bland Crespo.
Bland is currently president of the Cacif and Camagro, while Ricci is coordinator of the Cacif Labor Unit.
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The CNS is also made up of representative of other state entities, with a holder and a substitute:
- Ministry of Economy: Sara María Fernanda Larios Hernández and Elizabeth Ugalde Miranda F., currently Vice Minister.
- Monetary Board: Carlos Ricardo Figueroa Aguilar and José Nery Castillo Hernández G.
- Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS): Edwin Rolando García Caal and Juan Carlos Ramírez Villatoro H.
- National Statistics Institute (INE): Werner Santos Salguero García and Pedro José Reyes González
- Ministry of Culture and Sports: María Alejandra Gándara Espino and Érick Orlando Salazar Coyoy
The CNS
The National Salary Commission is attached to the Ministry of Labor as a technical and advisory body of the parity commissions, in addition, responsible for advising said ministry in the general policy of the salary, according to the Labor Code, Decree number 330 of the Congress, cites the agreement issued.
It is added that the members of the aforementioned commission will be appointed by the Executive Agency through government agreement through the Mentrab.
How is the minimum wage defined in Guatemala?
The minimum wage setting process is in charge of the National Salary Commission (CNS)Advisory body of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. The CNS is responsible for analyzing economic, social and labor factors to recommend the annual adjustments that the country needs.
Stages of the process:
- Technical Analysis and Proposals
Joint commissions, composed of government representatives, workers and employers, study variables such as Cost of livingthe inflationthe productivity and the situation of labor market. - Negotiation
If there is consensus, a joint proposal is presented to the Ministry of Labor. - Presidential decision
If an agreement is not reached, the President of the Republic determines the new salary based on technical analyzes. - Official publication
The new minimum wage It is formalized by government agreement in the Central America Diary and the January 1 of the following year.
Minimum wage 2025
He Guatemala Governmentthrough the president Bernardo Arévaloannounced the December 22, 2024 a minimum wage increase that entered into force from January 1, 2025.
This adjustment contemplated an increase in 10% for agricultural and non -agricultural activitiesand of 6% for the maquila and export sectorbeing one of the most significant salary increases in the last decade
The new minimum wage was established based on the recommendations of the National Salary Commission (CNS) and is divided according to the Economic constituency of the country, which considers both geographical location and economic activity.
*With information from Glenda Burrión.