The Colombian Senate narrowly rejected President Gustavo Petro’s proposed labor reform referendum, a key initiative to improve workers’ rights. The decision sparked accusations of procedural fraud and intensified calls for popular mobilization from leftist leaders and social movements.

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On May 14, 2025, Colombia’s Senate voted 49 to 47 against holding a referendum on the labor reform proposed by President Gustavo Petro and his government. This referendum aimed to put twelve critical questions about workers’ rights directly to the Colombian people, following repeated congressional setbacks for the reform bill itself. The Senate’s rejection effectively stalls the reform’s progress and forces the bill back to the initial legislative stages, delaying much-needed improvements to labor protections.

Interior Minister Armando Benedetti denounced the Senate President, Efraín Cepeda of the Conservative Party, accusing him of manipulating the voting process by prematurely closing the registry to prevent a fair count while the referendum was gaining support. Benedetti called the day’s proceedings “fraudulent,” underscoring the deep political obstruction faced by Petro’s administration in Congress. Senator María José Pizarro of the Historic Pact coalition condemned the Senate’s actions as “legal tricks” that deny democratic participation, warning that “a Congress that turns its back on the people cannot be reelected”.

🚨Colombia!!!

Acaban de negar la Consulta Popular en el Senado con trampas, leguleyadas y sin respetar el reglamento.

Un Congreso que le da la espalda a su gente no puede reelegirse. Con los derechos de los trabajadores no se juega!

Nos quieren proscribir y no brindan… pic.twitter.com/ECI5Wxopdd

— María José Pizarro Rodríguez (@PizarroMariaJo) May 14, 2025

The text reads: 🚨 Colombia!!!

They just denied the Popular Consultation in the Senate using tricks, legal loopholes, and without respecting the rules.

A Congress that turns its back on its people cannot be reelected. Workers’ rights are not to be trifled with!

Labor Reform: A Mandate for Social Justice and Worker Rights

Petro’s labor reform is a cornerstone of his progressive agenda aimed at addressing Colombia’s entrenched social inequalities. The reform proposed an eight-hour workday, increased pay for weekends and holidays, and mandated social security contributions for gig economy workers, such as delivery app drivers.

These measures align with international labor standards and seek to guarantee dignity and fair treatment for millions of Colombian workers. Despite widespread popular support and mass protests in favor of the reform, conservative and business interests in Congress have repeatedly blocked its advancement, citing concerns over increased labor costs.

In response to the Senate’s rejection, President Petro called for intensified and sustained protests, urging the Colombian people to “rebel with the greatest possible force” against what he describes as “tyranny” and obstructionism from the political establishment. The government’s push for a referendum represents a strategy to circumvent a hostile legislature and place the decision directly in the hands of citizens.

Este es el fraude. El pueblo ya no se debe arrebatar el triunfo. La salida a la calle es masiva, pero la coordinación popular debe dar los pasos a seguir del movimiento democrático que se desata a partir de ahora. https://t.co/AlPyomuqRI

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) May 14, 2025

The text reads: This is fraud. The people should no longer be snatched away from victory. The massive turnout is on the streets, but grassroots coordination must take the next steps for the democratic movement that is unleashed from now on.

However, with the Senate’s refusal to authorize the referendum, the reform now faces a prolonged legislative battle. Petro’s administration remains committed to advancing social justice reforms despite institutional resistance, signaling a continued struggle for transformative change in Colombia’s labor rights landscape.

This latest setback highlights the ongoing political polarization in Colombia and the challenges faced by leftist governments in advancing progressive reforms within entrenched power structures. The labor reform remains a symbol of the broader fight for economic equity and social inclusion championed by President Petro and his allies.those involved had voted.

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