The Joint Agreement for employees of trade, corresponding to the April-June quarter of 2025, has concluded without official homologation from the Ministry of Labor of the Nation. This lack of validation has created uncertainty regarding wage adjustments starting in August. In response, union and business chambers have begun negotiating a new agreement for the remainder of the year.

The previous agreement had stipulated a total increase of 5.4%, distributed in three installments: 1.9% in April, 1.8% in May, and 1.7% in June. It also included non-remunerative sums intended to be incorporated into the basic salary from July onwards. Though, many companies did not implement the agreed-upon increases due to the absence of official approval. The Faecys union has contested these business decisions, highlighting a clause within the joint agreement that mandated payment of increases even without state homologation.

Facing this situation, representatives from Faecys and various business chambers have reached a preliminary agreement for the July-December period of 2025. This new framework proposes a total increase of 6%, distributed as 1% monthly from July to December. These increases will be remunerative and calculated based on the June 2025 salary scales.

Additionally, fixed non-remunerative sums of $35,000 for April and $40,000 monthly from May to December are included. The december amount will be integrated into the basic salary starting January 2026, while the validity of other non-remunerative sums will expire after their respective payments.

These figures will be factored into calculations for bonuses, overtime, vacations, and compensation. The new agreement will also incorporate a clause similar to the previous one, ensuring that increases are paid even if official approval is pending.

A key outstanding issue is how the salary bases will be steadfast for companies that failed to implement the initial quarter’s increases. While the agreement reportedly includes compensatory clauses, the mechanisms for resolving disputes or the Ministry of Labor’s role in addressing potential objections remain unclear.

The focus now shifts to the potential formalization of this new understanding in the coming days. It is anticipated that the parties will not reconvene until November, when the inflationary landscape will be reassessed to consider any necessary final adjustments before the year concludes.

in the interim, trade employees are advised to monitor official communications for confirmation of exact dates and amounts. The union is committed to overseeing compliance with the agreement and preventing further delays in agreed-upon payments.