Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzon has asked President Juan Manuel Santos to increase the country’s minimum wage above the rate of inflation, Colombian media reported.
“My public position, my recommendation to President Juan Manuel Santos is to make every effort so that the next salary increase be harmonized and be above inflation,” said Garzon.
The vice president went on to say “creating a concerted agreement would send a very important message to the country,” He added that the salary increase should be above inflation because “if businessmen are doing well, it is only natural that workers also do well.”
“I don’t believe that the economy of a country can be consolidated with precarious salaries,” said Garzon. The vice president made the statements while speaking at an event with students from National Police colleges.
In recent weeks Garzon has faced heavy criticism for publicly condemning new definitions of poverty from the government’s Planning Department.