THE 10 KEY PROPOSALS OF THE LABOR REFORM, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT

Posted on: May 5th 2023

THE 10 KEY PROPOSALS OF THE LABOR REFORM, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT

PORTAFOLIO
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National Government files the labor reform bill, one of the most important proposals of President Gustavo Petro.

 

This is the third bill filed by the Executive (after the tax bill and the National Development Plan) and intends, according to the Executive, to modify the Substantive Labor Code in three main points: equality of opportunities for workers, protection of individual rights of workers and protection of collective labor law, referring to union guarantees.

 

Among the proposals of the reform are that fixed term contracts could be for up to 2 years and that supplementary working hours (overtime), whether day or night, could not exceed 2 hours per day and 12 hours per week.

 

But, what are those points that the Government itself considers key to its labor reform?

 

The relevant proposals

 

As reported by the Petro government, its proposal has 10 points that are the most important and these are:

 

1. Priority is given to indefinite contracts

 

2. The day and night working hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. are recovered and distinguished.

 

3. Payment of 100% of the Sunday surcharge. Currently, it is 75% paid.

 

4. Reestablishment of the notice period for workers.

 

5. Protection of digital or delivery work.

 

6. Violence and harassment in the workplace are abolished.

 

7. The protection and promotion of the right of freedom labor association is strengthened.

 

8. The legal 8 hours of work per day is maintained.

 

9. Prohibition of collective bargaining agreements with labor unions for the provision of services or tasks execution and those that are in will be maintained until their term expires.

 

10. Creation of the modality of agricultural day labor.

 

"The labor reform project seeks to dignify work and improve the stability conditions of the labor force in the country", said President Petro about the proposal.

 

 

Criticism

 

The labor reform has generated several criticisms. Fenalco spoke of the short time that the consultation table had in the last few days to review the project.

 

"Some points on which there is no agreement because they go against the possibility of generating employment, such as the new costs that suffocate companies," Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of the merchants' guild, said to Portafolio.

 

And Bruce Mac Master, president of the Andi, highlighted the importance of social dialogue, saying that although it is unlikely to reach a total consensus or a complete agreement on what ends up being filed between unions and trade unions, "it is valuable to know that there are aspects with total agreements".

 

Finally, Carlos Mario Sandoval, Lead Partner People Advisory Services, EY Colombia and Mexico, assured that changes in labor costs for companies are foreseen and that for this reason it is necessary to "analyze the impact of these proposals for companies, micro-entrepreneurs, informal and unemployed".

 

Taken from:  PORTAFOLIO