The Ministry of Labor, by means of Ministerial Agreement Nr. MDT-2025-195, published in the Official Gazette – Supplement Nr. 187 of December 18, 2025, fixed the Unified Basic Wage (SBU) of the general worker for the year 2026.
New SBU amount
As of January 1, 2026, the Unified Basic Salary is established at USD 482.00, which represents an increase of USD 12.00 over the previous year.
This value is of general application and mandatory for all workers including, among others:
- workers in small industry;
- agricultural workers;
- maquila workers;
- paid household workers;
- handicraft operators; and
- employees of the microenterprise.
Legal Scope
Pursuant to Article 81 of the Labor Code, wages and salaries may be freely stipulated between the parties, provided that they are not lower than the SBU fixed. Failure to comply with this legal minimum may result in labor contingencies and administrative sanctions.
Effective date
The Ministerial Agreement becomes effective as of its publication in the Official Gazette, but its mandatory application is from January 1, 2026.
Recommendation
Employers are advised to review and adjust their salary structures, pay roles and labor obligations in a timely manner to ensure compliance with the new SBU and avoid legal risks.
Quito D.M., December 2025
