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Proposed adjustment to the São Paulo minimum wage widens the gap with the national floor and projects real gains above inflation, directly impacting over 70 categories without a defined floor and reinforcing the state’s income valorization policy amidst recent cost of living pressures.
The São Paulo State government submitted a bill to the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (28) proposing an update to the São Paulo minimum wage to R$ 1,874.36, a value that exceeds the national floor and forecasts real gains above the accumulated inflation in the recent period.
If approved by state deputies, the new regional floor will apply to workers in more than 70 categories that do not have a minimum remuneration defined by federal legislation or by collective agreements and conventions, expanding the reach of the state’s income valorization policy.
São Paulo minimum wage above the national minimum
The proposal establishes a value approximately 15.6% higher than the national minimum wage, set at R$ 1,621, creating a difference of R$ 253.36 between the São Paulo floor and the federal reference, which reinforces the state’s role in income supplementation.
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This divergence in values is used by the government as an argument to support the policy of protecting workers’ purchasing power, especially in a scenario of inflationary pressure observed in recent years on basic consumer goods.
Considering the recent historical series, the state floor has accumulated a nominal growth of 46% since 2022, when it was R$ 1,284, resulting in an increase of R$ 590.36 to the regional minimum income over four consecutive years of adjustments.
Real gain above inflation
In the same interval, the National Consumer Price Index accumulated an increase of about 19.5%, a percentage lower than the evolution of the São Paulo minimum wage, which indicates a real increase in income for workers covered by the state policy.
The comparison between the indicators shows that the adjustment not only compensates for inflationary losses but also expands purchasing power, although this impact may vary according to the consumption profile of each professional category.
Data presented by the state government also indicate that the growth of the São Paulo floor also surpassed the nominal increase of the national minimum wage in the same period, which was approximately 33.7%, reinforcing the difference between the two benchmarks.
Government statement on valorization
Commenting on the proposal, Governor Tarcísio de Freitas stated that the adjustment represents a consistent advance in the income valorization policy, highlighting the accumulated impact over recent years on workers’ earnings.
According to him, the new value means an increase of R$ 590 compared to the floor paid four years ago, in addition to directly benefiting dozens of categories provided for in state law that use this parameter as a salary base.
The statement also links the adjustment to the economic development strategy, associating the increase in minimum income with the strengthening of consumption and the improvement of living conditions for workers with lower purchasing power.
More moderate annual adjustment
Despite the emphasis on accumulated growth, the proposed increase in relation to the currently effective state floor is more moderate, standing at around 3.9%, as the previously effective value was R$ 1,804.
This annual percentage reflects a policy of gradual adjustments, which seeks to balance income valorization with economic sustainability, avoiding abrupt impacts on employers who use the state floor as a reference.
The adjustment dynamic also takes into account factors such as recent inflation, economic growth, and labor market conditions, although these criteria are not publicly detailed in the summarized text of the project.
Categories benefiting from the state floor
The São Paulo minimum wage applies to workers who do not have a floor defined by federal legislation or collective bargaining, which includes professionals such as domestic workers, caregivers, attendants, and general service workers.
These categories are often among the most vulnerable in the labor market, with less bargaining power for wages, which makes the regional floor a relevant instrument for guaranteeing a minimum income in certain segments.
Additionally, the state value serves as an indirect reference for wage negotiations in sectors that, although having collective agreements, use the regional minimum as an initial basis for defining remuneration.
Processing in the Legislative Assembly
The text sent by the state Executive now begins its processing in the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, where it will be analyzed by committees before proceeding to a plenary vote by state deputies.
Only after approval and sanction by the governor can the new value officially come into force, becoming applicable to employment contracts covered by current state legislation.
The legislative process may include debates, adjustments, and eventual amendments, although historically proposals for adjusting the São Paulo minimum wage have been approved without significant changes to the value presented by the government.
The update of the state floor occurs in a context of broader discussions about income, cost of living, and inequality, themes that remain central to the economic and social debate in the country.
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