The Colombian government has revealed questions for a future labor reform referendum, focusing on health benefits and overtime pay. The proposal faces criticism for potentially complicating job creation within the economy. With a focus on various worker rights, the referendum must ensure significant voter participation for legitimacy. President Petro aims to gather support despite potential backlash if the initiative does not succeed.
In Bogotá, Colombia, the government has officially outlined the questions intended for a referendum aimed at labor law reforms, announced by Interior Minister Armando Benedetti on April 22, 2025. This proposed legislation seeks to extend health benefits and better overtime compensation for employees. However, it faces criticism for potentially hindering job creation in Colombia, the fourth largest economy in Latin America.
The Ministry of the Interior has disclosed twelve key questions for consideration in the national referendum, also referred to as a popular consultation in Colombia. Although a date for the referendum has not been established yet, it awaits Senate approval to proceed. Notably, the questions test public opinion on various reforms, including health insurance provisions for freelancers working with food delivery services and a mandate for companies to pay employees double for Sunday work.
Other queries include whether the standard workday should be limited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., suggesting that any work performed outside these hours warrants additional pay. The government has proposed a 35% bonus on pay for hours worked outside the regular workday, a measure aimed at enhancing workers’ earnings.
Business organizations are not aligning with the government’s proposed reforms. They argue that such regulations would complicate labor contracts for small and medium enterprises and potentially promote informal job arrangements. Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of Colombia’s National Association of Merchants, opined in a video on X, “The government’s reforms do not recognize the reality of 16 million informal laborers and unemployed people in Colombia.”
The referendum will also query if a dedicated fund should be established for pensions specifically for rural workers and whether companies should be required to hire a minimum of two individuals with disabilities for every one hundred employees.
In a recent address, President Gustavo Petro declared his intent to mobilize supporters toward Congress on May 1, pushing for favorable legislative action on the referendum. “It’s time for the people to make their own decisions,” he stated, arguing that Congress has resisted public input regarding future reforms.
Petro is seeking to circumvent legislative gridlock related to labor and health reforms vital to his economic agenda by proposing the referendum route, a tactic not previously used by Colombian administrations. However, political analysts express skepticism about the likelihood of gaining sufficient voter support.
For the referendum outcomes to hold legal weight, a minimum of one-third of eligible voters must participate, translating to about 13 million votes. To put this scale in context, Petro won the presidency with only 11 million votes. “There might be institutional actors, such as labor unions, who are very interested in this referendum,” remarked Yan Basset, a political analyst from Rosario University, indicating limited capacity for voter mobilization.
This referendum not only serves as a mechanism for pushing labor reforms but may also provide a platform for Petro’s party to strengthen its electoral positioning ahead of next year’s presidential election. Yet, if unsuccessful, it could backfire for the president, undermining the narrative that he champions the people’s interests.
The Colombian government’s proposed referendum on labor reform presents significant changes aimed at enhancing worker benefits but faces strong opposition from business groups. With critical questions posed to voters, the upcoming referendum seeks to gauge public support for measures such as overtime pay and health benefits. Although it offers President Gustavo Petro a strategic avenue to push for reform amidst legislative challenges, challenges remain regarding voter mobilization and potential political ramifications of a failed effort.
Original Source: apnews.com
