Mexico's Wage Revolution: A Milestone for Worker Rights

Mexico's Senate has passed a constitutional reform ensuring that the minimum wage will match or exceed inflation annually. With four in ten Mexicans earning minimum wage or below, the reform seeks to establish a solid foundation for wage increases. President Claudia Sheinbaum supports a 12% annual increase.

In a groundbreaking move, Mexico's Senate unanimously approved a constitutional amendment mandating that the nation's minimum wage be revised annually to match or exceed inflation. This measure aims to strengthen wage protections for Mexicans, where four in ten citizens earn the minimum wage or less.

The reform, initially proposed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has been advancing through Congress, where his successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum, has pledged to continue with substantial wage increases, promising a 12% annual rise. This act attempts to provide a consistent uplift for workers in Latin America's second-largest economy.

Currently, the daily minimum wage stands at 248.93 pesos ($12.80). The government plans to gradually enhance this to support the cost of 2.5 basic food baskets per day, up from the current coverage of 1.6. With potential approval from state legislatures, the reform aims to combat inflation's impact on wages and reduce poverty across the nation.

(With inputs from agencies.)