On December 03rd, 2025, the Business Coordinating Council published the agreement reached with the National Minimum Wage Commission, establishing a 13% increase in the minimum general wages, entering into force on January 1st, 2026.
Currently, for the application of the minimum wages in Mexico, there are two geographic areas: (i) The Northern Border Free Zone Area; and, (ii) the General Minimum Wages Area.
The Area corresponding to the Northern Border Free Zone, includes the following municipalities: Ensenada, Playas de Rosarito, Mexicali, Tecate and Tijuana, in the state of Baja California; San Luis Río Colorado, Puerto Peñasco, General Plutarco Elías Calles, Caborca, Altar, Sáric, Nogales, Santa Cruz, Cananea, Naco and Agua Prieta, in the state of Sonora; Janos, Ascensión, Juárez, Práxedis G. Guerrero, Guadalupe, Coyame del Sotol, Ojinaga and Manuel Benavides, in the state of Chihuahua; Ocampo, Acuña, Zaragoza, Jiménez, Piedras Negras, Nava, Guerrero and Hidalgo, in the state of Coahuila de Zaragoza; Anáhuac, in the state of Nuevo León; Nuevo Laredo, Guerrero, Mier, Miguel Alemán, Camargo, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Reynosa, Río Bravo, Valle Hermoso and Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas.
On the other hand, the General Minimum Wages Area is integrated by the rest of the country’s municipalities and Mexico City’s territorial demarcations, that make up the rest of the Mexican Republic.
The daily General Minimum Wage which will be effective as of January 1st, 2026 in the geographical area of the Northern Border Free Zone will raise from $419.88 Mexican pesos (approximately USD $22.95 dollars) to $440.87 Mexican pesos (approximately USD $24.10 dollars), resulting in a total increase of 5%.
While the amount resulting for the daily Minimum Wage for the Area of General Wages will increase from $278.80 Mexican pesos (approximately USD $15.24 dollars) to $315.04 Mexican pesos (approximately USD $17.22 dollars); this from a 6.5% increase per adjustment plus $17.01 Mexican pesos (approximately USD $ 0.93 dollars) corresponding to the Independent Recovery Amount (MIR by its acronym in Spanish).
The purpose of this agreement is to increase the income of the employees who perceive a minimum wage, to help them cope with inflationary concepts, as well as with the updates and increases of the basic food basket.
Should you require our assistance with any questions or additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to support you.
Contact
Gerardo Valencia
gvalencia@cuestacampos.com
Sandra Chávez
schavez@cuestacampos.com
José Gallástegui
jgallastegui@cuestacampos.com
Ana Becerra
abecerra@cuestacampos.com
THE ABOVE IS PROVIDED AS GENERAL INFORMATION PREPARED BY PROFESSIONALS WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT MATTER. THIS DOCUMENT ONLY REFERS TO THE APPLICABLE LAW IN MEXICO. WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON AS LEGAL, ACCOUNTING OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEING RENDERED.
