Labor reform: debate starts with warnings about unemployment – Sectors – Economy

The filing of the paper for the first debate of the labor reforms You will have to wait another day. Although yesterday he was all set to appear, he was finally postponed for today due to the annoyance of some parties such as ‘la U’ and the liberals who assured that he was not taken into account.

The representative Victor Salcedo He said they have big concerns. “There are articles that restrict fundamental rights and, therefore, cannot be processed by ordinary law. For example, in trade union matters democracy is eliminated, allowing minorities to impose strikes on majorities that do not want them”, he explained.

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In view of this, the speaker coordinator, Maria Fernanda Carrascal, It was ensured that 10 work tables were obtained and that everyone was heard. Even that consensus was reached in 39 of the 79 articles of the project. “We have decided to hold one last round table of speakers to reach more agreements,” he said.

Although there is no definitive text, since it was being adjusted yesterday until the last hour, the first impressions of the draft are already known. The unions that have spoken out continue to be concerned about the labor cost overruns that these changes could mean for companies.

This is because the proposal maintains the fact that the night shift begins at 6 in the afternoon and not at 9 at night, as it is now, or that the Sunday surcharge rises from 75 to 100 percent gradually . Likewise, some changes in outsourcing will remain.

“The current version creates major obstacles to entrepreneurship, SMEs, discourages hiring and seriously affects employment,” said Bruce Mac Master, president of Andi.

On the impact that it could have on employment, the Manager of the Bank of the Republic, Leonardo Villar, who ensures that although the project has a series of benefits for formal workers, it could increase labor costs and, therefore, affect hiring.

“There are elements of the reform that can be positive, but it is important that society and Congress are aware that these decisions are not free and that there is a significant risk that this strong increase in labor costs, and in particular of some sectors that depend on night work, affect hiring and reduce employment,” Villar said yesterday in a summons to Congress.

These statements are in line with the report of the Labor Market Analysis Group (Gamla), of the Banco de la República itself, known last week and which projected that companies would be forced to lay off some 450,000 of their formal employees in an intermediate scenario in a horizon of between 3 and 4 years.

“It is difficult to say definitive numbers, but the truth is that the studies suggest that the impacts can be important and that, therefore, they must have been taken into account in decision making. It should not be ignored that formality can be reduced and have an impact on productivity,” added Villar.

From the Colombian Association of Temporary Services Companies (Acoset), its president Miguel Pérez, also expressed his concern about the impact that was had in the sector that he leads. “The high costs proposed by the project discourage the hiring of flexible formal employment, putting at risk the 600,000 jobs generated by this sector,” he said.

Despite the changes made in the contracting of residential services such as Rappi, the applications union alliance in He said that the presentation insists that they have to be employees.

“The issue of the platforms is still in a critical state. Although there is a proposal on the table to formalize and cover 120,000 delivery drivers with social security, the Government insists that they have to be employees. More than 80,000 jobs would be destroyed”, warned its director, José Daniel López.

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