Wage negotiations for private workers to continue this week

Labor union representatives at the National Wage Council on Monday said the new proposed salary increase for private sector workers cannot be less than 5 percent.

They also said that salary adjustments agreed on for the first half of the year did not include variations in prices of goods in November and Decembe. Therefore, they said, that percentage should be taken into account in this new hike.

Albino Vargas, National Association of Public and Private Employess (ANEP) representative, said, the representatives “are confident that the government will accept the proposal they submitted.”

Unions presented two adjustment proposals of 4.95 and 5.95 percent, both higher than the 3.17 percent designated for the first half of this year.

On Monday at 4 p.m., the National Wage Council will consider each of the proposals. It is expected to offer a final ruling next Thursday.