Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, signed yesterday (25) the labor reform approved by the country’s Senate. He decided to make the sanction ceremony at Quinta de Bolívar, a residence in which Simon Bolívar lived in Bogota.
The first version of the reform, which was one of the main promises of his campaign, was denied in 2023. In order to ratify the project, the government had to sacrifice most articles that guaranteed collective rights and union movements.
Even so, the Colombian legislature, dominated by the right opposition, still resisted ensuring more rights to workers. They planned to reject the reform, and Petro had to threaten to pass the legislation through a public consultation. The senators were frightened by the popular mobilization around the project, which had marches and demonstrations throughout Colombia, and approved the project with 57 votes in favor and 37 against.
The main changes were in the duration of employment contracts, which will now be undefined, without hiring per hour of work. Another essential change is the recognition that technical students of the National Learning Service (Sena), who are equivalent to interns in Brazil, will have contracts that guarantee labor relationship with their bosses, with rights equal to other workers. This right has existed in the country, but was overthrown in 2003.
The government’s wins also reducing the weekly journey, which will go from 48 hours to 42 hours in 2026. They also achieved the increase in remuneration for night journey. Workers in service after 7 pm will receive an additional. Extra payments on Sundays and holidays also increased from 75% to 100%.
The reform also establishes that delivery and transport applications ensure that workers contribute to social security. These companies will no longer be able to demand exclusivity from their employees, who are now considered “independent”.
It was also allowed the establishment of flexible times for workers who take care of home and people with disabilities.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/06/26/colombia-aprova-reforma-trabalhista/
