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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's National Human Rights Commission said Wednesday that the country's 45-cent increase in the daily minimum wage is worrisome because it still isn't enough to meet the basic needs of a single worker or a family.
The government gave workers a raise of just over 8 pesos this week, increasing the minimum wage from 80 pesos a day to 88.4 pesos.
The raise, equivalent to about 45 U.S. cents, buys roughly a single ride on a Mexico City bus.
The commission said the minimum wage now falls about $15 a month short of what is needed to meet a worker's basic food, shelter and clothing costs.
The government has said the increase represents a purchasing power increase for employees. But with inflation running around 7 percent a year, the real-term benefit is minor.
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