The Minister of Labor, Mr. Wendrick Cicilia, together with the Department of Labor and Research (DAO), has announced the introduction of an hourly minimum wage effective January 1, 2026. The new measure aims to eliminate wage disparities between employees who work 40 hours per week and those who work more than 40 hours.
Starting January 1, 2026, it will be mandatory for all employees 18 years and older who earn the minimum wage to receive at least the hourly minimum wage, regardless of whether they are paid daily, weekly, or monthly. The newly established minimum hourly wage is AWG 11.58.
Key Changes Effective January 1, 2026
- Introduction of a minimum hourly wage of AWG 11.58 for all employees aged 18 and over, regardless of job function or number of hours worked
- Adjustment of the monthly salary calculation factor to 4.333
As a result of this adjustment, an employee working 40 hours per week who currently earns the minimum monthly salary of AWG 1,986.20 will, as of January 1, 2026, be entitled to a new minimum monthly salary of AWG 2,007.50.
Who Needs to Pay Attention to This Legal Change?
To determine whether an employee falls under this new law, the hourly wage must be known. If the calculated hourly wage is below AWG 11.58, the employer must adjust the salary accordingly as of January 1, 2026.
Employees who already earn an hourly wage higher than AWG 11.58 are not affected by this regulation. Employees with a monthly salary of AWG 2,257.93 or higher should use the official formulas to determine whether the law applies to them.
How to Calculate Minimum Wages
Weekly Minimum Wage:
Weekly wage = Number of working hours per week × Minimum hourly wage
Monthly Minimum Wage:
Monthly wage = Number of working hours per week × Minimum hourly wage × 4.333
Additional Information
For more information about the hourly minimum wage effective January 1, 2026, the public can use the following resources:
- SUELDO App (DAO hourly minimum wage calculator)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents available in multiple languages on the DAO website
- Email: dao.uurloon@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: 593-6934 (questions related to hourly minimum wage only)
- Phone: 523-7720
- DAO Office: Paardenbaaistraat 11, open from 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
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