LatinNews Daily - 14 January 2026

*El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has presented a legislative initiative before the 60-member unicameral legislature which would provide a bonus equivalent to 50% of a monthly salary to be paid in the second half of January each year to public and private sector workers who earn up to US$1,500. In a social media post Bukele describes it as a “concrete measure to strengthen the income of families and boost the economy in January, a month that is historically difficult for many households”. According to Bukele the measure will not substitute salaries and will be exempt from income tax, social security (ISSS), and pension (AFP) deductions. According to the same social media post, in the private sector, implementation will be “gradual, responsible and focused on protecting employment”. He said that this year, the payment would be voluntary for the private sector and include a tax incentive permitting companies to deduct 100% of the amount authorised from their income tax. He also said that as of this month, the government would be “the first to comply with the law for all public employees”.

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