In the 521 days that the current government has been in power, attention has been focused on its efforts to push through a labor reform that has aroused controversy among the population.

Since March 2023, this initiative has been the subject of intense debate and has experienced significant progress and setbacks.

Among the main axes proposed in this reform we find, among others, the prioritization of the permanent contract as a measure to strengthen labor stability, the delimitation of working hours, increases in overtime, the protection of labor rights in the context of digital or delivery platforms, the protection and active promotion of the right to union association and the maximum limitation of labor outsourcing.

The first attempt to carry out this reform took place in June 2023, when the Ministry of Labor filed before the Congress of the Republic Bill No. 367 of 2023, through which it intended to convert such reform into an ordinary law that would modify, selectively, the Substantive Labor Code and other concordant norms, guaranteeing, in the words of said cabinet, labor stability and the dignity of work in Colombia.

However, the controversial bill collapsed in the Seventh Committee of the House of Representatives due to lack of quorum, thus preventing the first debate from materializing before the end of the legislature. This setback led to its archiving due to the passage of the legislature, marking a critical moment in the process.

In any case, the current government persists in its attempt to carry out the much-debated labor reform. In August 2023, a new bill was submitted to the Seventh Commission of the House of Representatives.

This new project, still in the early stages of its processing, has made progress in its development and, to date, a total of 16 articles have been approved, highlighting aspects related to the change in the night shift and Sunday and holiday surcharges.

With this new momentum, attention is focused on the next steps of the bill. In order to be approved, it must undergo a second debate before the Plenary of the House of Representatives. Once approved in the Plenary, the bill will move to the Senate, where it will follow a similar process. If approved in both chambers, it will be sent to the Presidency of the Republic for its approval.

In summary, the government's reform proposal still faces a lengthy legislative process before it is approved. Given its complexity and controversy, it is very likely that the text will undergo substantial modifications. This moment marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue in which various actors will contribute their perspectives and adjustments to the project, reflecting the dynamics inherent in the formulation of crucial labor laws.

The uncertainty about the final outcome highlights the possibility that the final version of the reform may differ significantly from the initial text, evidencing the complicated balance of interests and opinions in the legislative arena.

In any case, society and the various stakeholders await with anticipation the debates and decisions that will shape the future of the labor arena in the country. As this process unfolds, controversy and public attention continue to surround this government initiative, leaving expectations about the final outcome of the labor reform up in the air.