Work conditions in Colombia

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

Working hours are limited to 48 hours per week spread over a maximum period of six days a week. With authorisation granted by the Ministry of Social Welfare, an employee can work up to 12 hours of overtime per week. Employees in managerial positions are not subject to such restrictions.

Retirement Age

The retirement age is 62 for men and 57 for women, or after a minimum of 1,300 weeks of work.

Working Contracts

Contracts can be oral or written, fixed term or permanent, full time or part-time, project specific or seasonal, etc. For more information consult the Ministry of Labour.

Labour Laws

Consult the Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labour regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

In 2021, the government set the minimum wage at COP 908,526 per month (228,14 USD equivalent) + COP 106,454 (26,74 USD equivalent) of transportation subsidy.

Average Wage

Average gross monthly salary was COP 1,448,509 per month (363,24 USD equivalent) in 2019 according to the ILO (latest available data).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 21% of covered earnings (maximum applicable rate)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 10% of covered earnings (maximum applicable rate)

Social Partners

Employer Associations

ANDI - National Business Association of Colombia

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

In accordance with Colombian labour legislation, any group of 25 workers or more, regardless of whether they are employed by the same company or not, can form a union. Employees of companies with fewer than 25 employees can join other unions. The Constitution protects the right to form unions, and unionised workers have specific legal protection that prevent them from being fired because of their union activity. However, violence, threats, harassment and other practices against trade unionists affect the exercise of the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Strikes in the essential public service sectors, such as the central bank and activities related to the public health system, are illegal. There is not a strong culture of unionisation in Colombia.
The main unions are the CUT (Unified Congress of Workers), the CTC (Congress of Workers of Colombia) and the CGT (General Congress of Workers). They are mostly comprised of public employees, especially from the country's petroleum industry and the education sector.

Labour Unions

Unified Congress of Workers of Colombia (CUT)
Congress of Workers of Colombia (CTC)
General Congress of Workers (CGT)

Unionisation Rate

4% (of the formal sector)

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Health and Social Protection
Ministry of Labour