The labor reform promoted by Government of Colombia made significant progress in the House of Representatives and the debate is expected to continue in the coming weeks. The bill aims to modify several aspects of the current Substantive Labor Code to adapt to current labor market challenges and increase social justice, especially in sectors where informality and precariousness predominate.
What are the most important points?
In the first debate of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, the labor reform was approved.
Cesar Melgarejo
In addition to strengthening the conditions for labor formalization, aiming, for example, at the inclusion of tdigital platform workers to the labor regimethe initiative seeks to reduce the hours it seeks grant higher salary surcharges for hours worked after 6 p.m.which would benefit workers with night hours.
How many hours do you work in Colombia?
In Colombia, the current maximum working day is 48 hours a week, according to the Substantive Labor Code, which can be distributed over a maximum of six days a week, which means that employees can work up to 8 hours a day.
The labor reform presented by the Government maintains the application of Law 2101 of 2021, which establishes the progressive reduction of the working day from 48 to 42 hours per week. This reduction will be applied gradually until 2026, without implying a decrease in workers’ salaries.
This measure aims to improve the quality of life of workers, promoting a greater balance between work and personal life and adapting to international labor standards that recommend shorter days without loss of pay.
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What benefits does the labor reform bring in Colombia?
The main benefits focus on improving the conditions of workers and promoting greater social justice in the workplace.
Among the main advantages are:
1) Strengthening job stability
It seeks to ensure that dismissals without just cause are more costly for companies, promoting job stability and protecting employees against arbitrary dismissals.
2) Increase in night and Sunday surcharges
The hours considered daytime work are reduced (until 6:00 pm), which will allow workers to receive higher surcharges for night work. In addition, surcharges for working on Sundays and holidays would increase from 75% to 100%.
3) Formalization of informal work
Measures are promoted to include workers in sectors such as digital platforms (deliverers and drivers) within the formal economy, providing them with access to social security and labor rights.
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4) Progressive reduction of the working day
The implementation of the reduction of the weekly working day from 48 to 42 hours without reducing salary continues, seeking to improve the quality of life and the balance between work and personal life.
5) Improvement of conditions for rural workers
The reform includes mechanisms to improve the employment situation in the rural sector, one of the most affected by informality and job insecurity.
6) Protection of working women and promotion of gender equality
Measures are proposed to guarantee equal pay, equity in participation in the labor market and greater protection for women in vulnerable or discriminatory situations.
