Introduction to the Comisión Nacional de Salarios Mínimos (Conasami)
The Comisión Nacional de Salarios Mínimos (Conasami) has presented initial progress on a proposal to update the System of Professional Minimum Wages (SSMP). The aim is to bring these wages in line with the general minimum wage, which has fallen behind due to a significant gap.
The Evolution of the SSMP
Since its inception, the SSMP has included 97 distinct professions, trades, or specialized jobs. However, over time, 32 have been removed, five have changed names, and two have merged. As a result, by 2025, the number of professional minimum wages will be reduced to 61.
Historical Context and Challenges
The first professional minimum wages were set in 1966, though inconsistently. Their determination was left to the National Commission, which often delayed the process, making it difficult to trace their establishment in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF).
Conasami’s Proposal for Modernization
During the 2024 salary increase negotiations in December, Conasami president Luis Murguía Corella stated that an agreement was reached with business and labor representatives to analyze and define the new professional table subject to wage setting. The goal, he explained, was to “modernize the professional table.”
Murguía Corella emphasized that a more modernized table should include new professions, as many existing ones no longer exist or have few practitioners. Additionally, the review should ensure that the most deserving professions receive wage adjustments.
Bridging the Gap Between Professional and General Minimum Wages
Since 2017, the gap between professional and general minimum wages has narrowed considerably. This is because the Monto Independiente de Recuperación (MIR) used to boost the general minimum wage’s purchasing power was not applied to professional minimum wages, resulting in increases close to the inflation rate.
Conasami’s Objectives
- Accelerate the recovery of professional minimum wages relative to the general minimum wage, addressing the historical lag.
- Align Conasami’s catalog with the Sistema Nacional de Clasificación de Ocupaciones (SINCO) to utilize statistical information generated by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) and monitor the evolution of purchasing power and employment in listed occupations.
- Ensure that the SSMP is updated at the same percentage as the general minimum wage and apply inclusion and exclusion criteria for categories based on the ICE periodically.
Looking Ahead
Conasami’s proposal aims to ensure that professional minimum wages keep pace with the general minimum wage, reflecting changes in occupations and wage requirements. By aligning with SINCO and utilizing INEGI data, Conasami seeks to maintain a relevant and responsive system that supports fair compensation for all professions.
