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The Minimum Wage 2026 Is Back at the Center of Discussions Because the New Projection Reduced the Expected Value and Opened a Wide Contrast with the Calculation of Dieese, Which Indicates a Much Greater Need to Cover Essential Expenses
The update of the calculations by the Ministry of Planning and Budget has brought the issue back to the center of discussions about public accounts. The previous projection was R$ 1,631, but the value was adjusted to R$ 1,627 after the revision of the data used by the Legislative. The topic returns to the agenda of the CMO, which will analyze the PLDO this Wednesday and decide the next steps related to the adjustment.
Review of Projections for the Minimum Wage 2026
The government indicated that if the text advances in Congress and is incorporated by the LOA, the new value will represent an increase of 7.18% compared to the current R$ 1,518. The re-evaluation of the parameters reinforces the impact of changes in the budget, since the national minimum wage influences benefits and public expenses.
Dieese Estimates About the Minimum Wage 2026
A survey released by Dieese highlighted another calculation for the needs of workers. The survey indicated that the minimum wage in January 2025 should exceed R$ 7,000 to cover essential expenses for a family of four. The study used the basic basket in São Paulo as a reference, which cost R$ 851.82 and recorded the highest value among the capitals included in the survey.
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Dieese noted an increase in the price of the basic basket in 13 of the 17 capitals analyzed. Based on this data, it estimated that the ideal minimum wage would be R$ 7,156.15, a value equivalent to 4.71 times the current floor. The calculation follows constitutional requirements that determine the coverage of expenses such as food, housing, health, education, clothing, hygiene, transportation, leisure, and social security.
Debate About the Impact of the Minimum Wage 2026
The distinct projections highlight the gap between the value expected by the government and the amount calculated by Dieese. The discussion about the Minimum Wage 2026 once again exposes the pressure of the cost of living and is expected to gain strength in the final stages of analysis in Congress, which will decide the amount incorporated into the budget for the next year.
