In Panama, from January 16, 2026, new minimum wage rates will be introduced, varying by economic sector and region. In primary activities such as agriculture, livestock, and fishing, hourly wages range from $1.64 to $2.65, with variations depending on the type of activity and scale of operation. In the manufacturing industry, rates range from $1.95 to $3.13 per hour, reaching $3.39 in specific activities like cement and concrete manufacturing. In construction, the minimum wage is set between $3.30 and $3.51 per hour, with an average monthly minimum wage reaching around $750.08. Sectors such as electricity, gas, and water maintain a national rate of $3.50 per hour. In commerce, hospitality, and services, wages also show differences depending on the activity and company size, with ranges from $2.43 to $3.40 per hour. On average, a worker in a large company in region 1 (districts like Panama, Colón, San Miguelito, David, Santiago, La Chorrera, Arraiján, Chitré, Penonomé, among others) with a minimum hourly wage of $3.02 would earn around $628.16 per month. Specialized sectors stand out, such as air transport, where wages exceed $4.90 per hour. Domestic services maintain a monthly scheme of $350 in Region 1 and $320 in Region 2. The decree defines two wage regions in the country and establishes that these new rates will take effect on January 16, 2026, repealing previous regulations and being mandatory nationwide. Workers in Latin America receive very different minimum wages depending on the country and even the economic activity. Comparing the 2026 data, the region shows a marked disparity: while Costa Rica registers one of the highest minimum wages—around 373,092 colones monthly, equivalent to about 740 to 790 dollars depending on the exchange rate—at the opposite end are countries like Venezuela, where the monthly minimum income barely rounds to a dollar. Cuba and Venezuela have the worst minimum wages with $5 a month and $1 a month, respectively. Returning to the highest-rated, after Costa Rica, Uruguay is in second place with $648, and in third is Panama with $636. Chile occupies fourth place with $597 and Mexico fifth with $533. In the rest of the region, minimum wages are at intermediate levels, with Honduras at $530 among the highest in this group, followed by Ecuador ($482) and Guatemala ($477). Lower are Colombia between $446 and $540 and Paraguay ($428), while Bolivia ($344) and Peru ($330) reflect more modest incomes. At the bottom of the ranking are Nicaragua ($241) and Brazil ($295), which maintain relatively low minimum wages, while the Dominican Republic presents a variable scheme ranging from $269 to $475, depending on the company size. In the last places stand out Cuba and Venezuela, evidencing the greatest wage distortions in the region and the deep differences in purchasing power among Latin American countries. Different wages in Panama. From January 16 of this year in Panama, several minimum wage rates by economic sector and region are in force. In primary activities such as agriculture, livestock, and fishing, hourly wages range from $1.64 to $2.65 with variations depending on the type of activity and scale of operation. Taking the lowest remuneration as a reference, a worker in the agricultural sector would earn $341.12 per month.
