Nicaragua

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Minimum wage (gross)

Source: La Prensa (Nicaragua), reporting the MITRAB / Comisión Nacional del Salario Mínimo acta; cross-checked with EY Nicaragua tax alert · effective Mar 1, 2026

Nicaragua has a national statutory minimum wage (Ley 625) set by the Comision Nacional del Salario Minimo, but it is differentiated by ~10 economic sectors rather than a single national rate; rates are published as MONTHLY córdoba (NIO) amounts. A 4% increase was approved 5 March 2026, applied retroactively from 1 March 2026 and valid through 28 February 2027, covering ~325,000 workers in 9 sectors. Standard work week under the Código del Trabajo is 48 hours (8h/day x 6 days). I selected the broad Commerce/Restaurants/Hotels/Transport/Storage/Communications/Electricity-Gas-Water tier (C$11,350.08/month) as the tier covering the largest group of formal urban workers. Full 2026 monthly schedule (C$): Agropecuario 6,188.02 (plus employer-provided meals); Pesca 9,409.09; Minas y Canteras 11,113.46; Industria Manufacturera ~8,320.48; Micro/Pequeña Industria Artesanal y Turística ~6,519.58; Electricidad-Gas-Agua / Comercio-Restaurantes-Hoteles / Transporte-Almacenamiento-Comunicaciones 11,350.08; Construcción/Establecimientos Financieros y Seguros 13,848.23 (highest); Servicios Comunales-Sociales-Personales (incl. domestic workers) ~8,674.94; Gobierno Central y Municipal ~7,716.70. Free trade zones (Zonas Francas, ~105,815 workers) are governed by a separate 2022-2027 agreement and received +6.7% from 1 January 2026 to C$9,986.54/month. Figures verified: EY-published 2025-26 base rates x 1.04 reconcile exactly to the news-reported 2026 figures (e.g., 10,913.54 x 1.04 = 11,350.08).

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