Within the framework of the discussion of the labor reform of the government of Gustavo Petro, the International Labor Organization (ILO) will have Colombia adopt measures to set a daily limit on working hours.
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«It is necessary that they set some limits on hours worked per day and that the extras are paid in a timely manner and, of course, that there are limits to them both weekly and annually, as is based on the ILO conventions”, assured Marialaura Fino, specialist in International Labor Standards of the ILO for Andean countries.
It must be remembered that the proposal of the Labor Minister, Gloria Inés Ramírez, it is that people worked until 6 in the afternoon, so after that time it would be considered a night shift and they would be paid as extra. In addition, it is sought that the surcharge for working on a Sunday or holiday is not 75 percent but rises to 100 percent.
For this reason, labor cost overruns are one of the main concerns that entrepreneurs in the country currently have regarding the project of labour reform that the Government is preparing and that it expects to file before Congress on March 16.
The report of the ILO commission of experts also considers the elimination of the limit of the 8-hour daily workday contained in Law 2101 of 2021 “dangerous and disadvantageous”.
Working hours will be reduced in Colombia
As of July 15, 2023, all workers will go to their workplace one hour less per week. Of the current 48, the working day will have 47 by law. Of course, companies may not reduce the salary of employees in any case. Otherwise, they will be exposed to sanctions.
This reduction is due to Law 2101 of 2021, which was led by the former senator of the Democratic Center alvaro uribe and which determines that the Colombian working day will gradually decrease until reaching 42 hours a week in 2026.
Companies will have to prepare and reach agreements with their employees so that they work one less hour this year, another less in 2024, reduce two in 2025 and another two in 2026.
For this, the law determines that these hours must be distributed by mutual agreement between employees and workers between 5 and 6 days a week, always guaranteeing that employees have a day off.
