Con Republicanos en contra: Cámara de Diputados aprueba y despacha a ley reajuste del salario mínimo

The Chamber of Deputies in Chile passed a bill to increase the country’s minimum wage, even as opposition from Republican lawmakers threatened to derail the vote. The new law will increase the minimum wage from 326 thousand pesos ($430) to 337 thousand pesos ($444) a month, benefiting over a million workers. The approval of the reajuste del salario mínimo comes in the wake of a severe economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left many low-wage workers struggling to make ends meet. Despite pushback from conservatives who argued that the increase would lead to inflation and job losses, the popular bill was ultimately passed by a vote of 89-53. The heated debate over the minimum wage in Chile reflects a global conversation about income inequality and workers’ rights. As more and more people are being pushed into poverty due to the pandemic, the need for fair wages and economic justice has never been more urgent.