Latest news with #Bogota
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Colombia's Council of State suspends Petro's labor reform referendum
BOGOTA, June 18 (Reuters) - Colombia's Council of State on Wednesday suspended a decree by President Gustavo Petro that sought to call a referendum on a labor reform, citing lack of Senate authorization. The decree, which Petro issued last week, sparked criticism from political opposition, which labeled it a coup d'état and an overt challenge to the nation's institutions and congress, which must authorize such measures.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Colombia's Senate approves labor bill that would mean more pay and protections for workers
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's Senate on Tuesday night approved a labor bill that is expected to grant workers more overtime pay while making it harder for companies to hire employees on short-term contracts. The bill's approval comes as tensions have been increasing between the Senate and President Gustavo Petro over reforms to the economy and health system that have polarized the nation's politics and tested the separation of powers in Colombia's fragile democracy. Petro has repeatedly accused Congress of blocking his reforms and last week issued a decree that called on Colombia's elections agency, the National Registrar, to organize a referendum on labor laws. The agency said Tuesday it would wait for Colombian courts to decide if it was legal for it to organize the referendum, because the Senate had voted against the referendum last month. Petro has threatened to change Colombia's constitution, by calling for a constituent assembly, if his request for a referendum on labor laws is not granted, and in a post on X Tuesday, said that those who did not approve the referendum were committing 'treason." Opposition leaders have accused the president of developing an authoritarian streak, as he tries to override decisions made by Congress. The labor bill approved by Colombia's Senate on Tuesday includes many of the changes to Colombia's labor laws proposed by Petro's party, the Historical Pact. It increases surcharges paid to employees who work Sundays and also makes companies pay more for late evening shifts, which is likely to apply to many retailers, restaurants and hotels. The bill also says delivery apps must formally hire delivery workers as freelancers or as full-time employees and help to pay for their health insurance. Business associations in Colombia oppose the changes, arguing they will raise the cost of employing people and could ultimately increase unemployment. Currently, 56% of Colombian workers labor with no contracts, in what is known as the informal economy. Economists expect the reforms to push more people into informality, while supporters of the bill argue they are just pushing for the restoration of rights workers had in the early 1990s, before Colombia began to make labor laws more flexible. The Senate and House of Representatives must now reconcile the differences in the bills each chamber drafted and then agree on a final version of the bill. Petro wrote in a message on X that he will continue to push for the referendum until legislators from both chambers have voted on a final bill.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Colombia's Senate approves labor bill that would mean more pay and protections for workers
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's Senate on Tuesday night approved a labor bill that is expected to grant workers more overtime pay while making it harder for companies to hire employees on short-term contracts. The bill's approval comes as tensions have been increasing between the Senate and President Gustavo Petro over reforms to the economy and health system that have polarized the nation's politics and tested the separation of powers in Colombia's fragile democracy. Petro has repeatedly accused Congress of blocking his reforms and last week issued a decree that called on Colombia's elections agency, the National Registrar, to organize a referendum on labor laws. The agency said Tuesday it would wait for Colombian courts to decide if it was legal for it to organize the referendum, because the Senate had voted against the referendum last month. Petro has threatened to change Colombia's constitution, by calling for a constituent assembly, if his request for a referendum on labor laws is not granted, and in a post on X Tuesday, said that those who did not approve the referendum were committing 'treason." Opposition leaders have accused the president of developing an authoritarian streak, as he tries to override decisions made by Congress. The labor bill approved by Colombia's Senate on Tuesday includes many of the changes to Colombia's labor laws proposed by Petro's party, the Historical Pact. It increases surcharges paid to employees who work Sundays and also makes companies pay more for late evening shifts, which is likely to apply to many retailers, restaurants and hotels. The bill also says delivery apps must formally hire delivery workers as freelancers or as full-time employees and help to pay for their health insurance. Business associations in Colombia oppose the changes, arguing they will raise the cost of employing people and could ultimately increase unemployment. Currently, 56% of Colombian workers labor with no contracts, in what is known as the informal economy. Economists expect the reforms to push more people into informality, while supporters of the bill argue they are just pushing for the restoration of rights workers had in the early 1990s, before Colombia began to make labor laws more flexible. The Senate and House of Representatives must now reconcile the differences in the bills each chamber drafted and then agree on a final version of the bill. Petro wrote in a message on X that he will continue to push for the referendum until legislators from both chambers have voted on a final bill. The Associated Press
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Colombia's Senate approves labor bill that would mean more pay and protections for workers
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's Senate on Tuesday night approved a labor bill that is expected to grant workers more overtime pay while making it harder for companies to hire employees on short-term contracts. The bill's approval comes as tensions have been increasing between the Senate and President Gustavo Petro over reforms to the economy and health system that have polarized the nation's politics and tested the separation of powers in Colombia's fragile democracy. Petro has repeatedly accused Congress of blocking his reforms and last week issued a decree that called on Colombia's elections agency, the National Registrar, to organize a referendum on labor laws. The agency said Tuesday it would wait for Colombian courts to decide if it was legal for it to organize the referendum, because the Senate had voted against the referendum last month. Petro has threatened to change Colombia's constitution, by calling for a constituent assembly, if his request for a referendum on labor laws is not granted, and in a post on X Tuesday, said that those who did not approve the referendum were committing 'treason.' Opposition leaders have accused the president of developing an authoritarian streak, as he tries to override decisions made by Congress. The labor bill approved by Colombia's Senate on Tuesday includes many of the changes to Colombia's labor laws proposed by Petro's party, the Historical Pact. It increases surcharges paid to employees who work Sundays and also makes companies pay more for late evening shifts, which is likely to apply to many retailers, restaurants and hotels. The bill also says delivery apps must formally hire delivery workers as freelancers or as full-time employees and help to pay for their health insurance. Business associations in Colombia oppose the changes, arguing they will raise the cost of employing people and could ultimately increase unemployment. Currently, 56% of Colombian workers labor with no contracts, in what is known as the informal economy. Economists expect the reforms to push more people into informality, while supporters of the bill argue they are just pushing for the restoration of rights workers had in the early 1990s, before Colombia began to make labor laws more flexible. The Senate and House of Representatives must now reconcile the differences in the bills each chamber drafted and then agree on a final version of the bill. Petro wrote in a message on X that he will continue to push for the referendum until legislators from both chambers have voted on a final bill.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Court says Colombia lower house must re-do vote on pension reform
BOGOTA, June 17 (Reuters) - Colombia's constitutional court said in a ruling on Tuesday that the country's lower house must re-do a vote on a major pension reform approved last year because of a procedural irregularity, though it did not rule on the law's constitutionality. The law, approved by the lower house in June 2024 after prior approval in the Senate, is meant to strengthen state pension fund Colpensiones, reduce subsidies and increase coverage for those without sufficient savings. The bill was meant to come into force next month, but will not be valid until the court approves it, the ruling added. "With the intent of compensating for the procedural irregularity which occurred," lawmakers in the lower house must vote on the text of the law approved by the Senate and already published in the official gazette, the ruling said. The lower house has 30 days, counted only when it is in session, to conduct the vote, it added. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti told reporters President Gustavo Petro would call extra sessions, as the current legislative session ends on Friday. "The pension reform has been saved," Petro said on X. "I ask the lower house to discuss in depth the article which would approve the Senate's text and to back it."
