Colombia's Salario Minimo

Unions and the government finally agreed on a minimum salary for 2006 of $408.000 pesos per month. At todays exchange rate ( $2275 pesos to the dollar) that's about $179.00 US. In addition most will get a monthly transportation subsidy of about $40.000. About four million Colombians receive the salario minimo. They also receive paid health insurance costing $110.000 per month, and for a six month contract another one time payment of $500.000 for cesantias, prima, vacaciones and intereses.

My caretaker gets all of that plus free rent, vegetable garden, free electric, a cellular phone (he has to buy his minutes) and assistance twice a year with purchase of his childrens' school books and supplies. He also saves $18.000 pesos twice a month in jeep transport of his remesa (two week food purchase) because I haul it up for him in my car.