Santiago de Chile, May 1 (EFE) .- Thousands of people went out on Thursday to the streets of the Chilean capital to commemorate Labor day, marked by the agreement reached on the eve between the government and the main union of the country, the Unitary Central of Workers (CUT), for a fourth increase in the minimum wage.
With slogans in defense of decent housing and work and a festive and family atmosphere, the march was developed peacefully by the Alameda, the main avenue of the city, although disturbances were recorded when a group of hooded men, picked up from the mobilization, launched objects to the police, which intervened with water jets thrown from riot trucks.
Part of the prominence of the day was taken by the former interior and work ministers: Carolina Tohá and Jeannette Jara. The first, flag bearer of the traditional left center, and the second, of the Communist party, both will play primary with deputy Gonzalo Winter, of the leftist Frenta broad, to define the candidacy of the ruling party to the presidential elections of November.
During the morning, the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, commemorated May 1 at a ceremony with authorities and union leaders, in which he highlighted the advances in the government’s work agenda such as the reduction of the working day to 40 hours, the Conciliation Law and the promulgation of pension reform, among others.
“This is not an agenda to Matacaballo del Government. We have a parliamentary minority, we could not do it but dialogue,” said the president.
Boric also mentioned the agreement reached Wednesday with the Unitary Central of Workers to raise the minimum salary of 3.6 % from the 510,000 pesos per month that currently govern to 529,000 pesos (556 dollars / 491 euros to today’s change) as of May.
The agreement, which will now be discussed in Parliament, where the Government has no majority, includes a second increase to 539,000 pesos (571 dollars / 501 euros to today’s change) As of January 1, 2026. However, for the majority union the scope of the pact is insufficient, since it aspired to a 12 % rise at the end of the year.
Chile is one of the countries with the highest minimum wage in Latin America, although it is still far from the main member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). EFE
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