President Gustavo Petro enacts Colombia’s new labor reform, reversing decades of neoliberal setbacks and marking a new era for workers’ rights and social justice.

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On June 25, 2025, President Gustavo Petro, standing before a crowd of workers outside Bogotá’s historic Quinta de Bolívar, signed into law Colombia’s long-awaited Labor Reform. The new legislation, described by Petro as the “first part” of the Labor Statute mandated by the 1991 Constitution but ignored by Congress for 34 years, restores key rights stripped from workers during the neoliberal administrations of César Gaviria and Álvaro Uribe.

Petro emphasized the historic nature of the moment, declaring, “From the beginning of the republic came the emancipation of labor in Colombia. It’s a two-century-long struggle that continues.” He called on the working class to defend the law and ensure its enforcement, warning that powerful interests could try to render it a “dead letter,” as has happened with much of Colombia’s progressive constitution.

Restoring Dignity: What the Labor Reform Achieves

The reform is not about radical new rights, Petro explained, but about recovering those that were lost. “So far, we have recovered the labor rights that existed before César Gaviria and Álvaro Uribe,” he stated. He also criticized business leaders and members of Congress who tried to block the reform, calling their efforts “useless” and lacking in intelligence.

Key benefits of the Labor Reform include:

-Indefinite-term contracts as the default

-Salary and social security for SENA students

-Minimum wage and social security for medical interns

-Job stability for ICBF community and surrogate mothers

-Contracts and social security for domestic workers

-Social security for digital platform delivery drivers

-Night shift now begins at 7:00 p.m.

-Increased pay for weekends and holidays

Petro lamented that some progressive articles, such as menstrual leave and paternity leave, were stripped out during congressional negotiations.

Hoy firmaré la ley de la reforma laboral, en la quinta de Bolívar al medio dia. Las y los espero. https://t.co/Nntcms1MYX

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 25, 2025

The text reads: Today I will sign the labor reform law at the Quinta de Bolívar at noon. I look forward to seeing you all.

Petro called on Colombia’s working class—both salaried and self-employed—to organize for the full implementation of the law. “The way to enforce this law is through organization among workers,” he stated. He urged young SENA students, who will now benefit from full employment contracts, to help unionize and mobilize the country’s fragmented labor force.

He also advocated for the creation of cooperatives among informal workers, supported by cheap public credit, to build wealth and solidarity from below.

During the signing event, Petro highlighted the success of his administration’s health measures, noting that infant mortality from malnutrition has been halved. However, he pointed out Colombia’s dire shortage of nurses and doctors, calling for urgent health sector reform. He urged the Seventh Committee of the House of Representatives to accelerate the process, envisioning a mixed system to guarantee universal access.

With Congress finally approving the labor reform, Petro’s government withdrew its controversial referendum proposal, which had been criticized by the opposition as unconstitutional. The “threat” of a referendum, according to Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, was crucial in keeping the reform alive through legislative hurdles.

Attention now shifts to Petro’s proposal for a National Constituent Assembly, aiming to further democratize Colombia’s institutions and deepen the gains of the Bolivarian-inspired movement.

President Petro’s labor reform marks a decisive break with Colombia’s neoliberal past and a bold step toward dignity, solidarity, and justice for the working majority. As the official presidential account declared, “With his signature, the implementation of this law begins, restoring rights and recognizing the dignity of working people.”

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