Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

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Increases in the Minimum Wage and Transportation Allowance for 2024

New Order or Decree

Author: Gabriela Pacheco, Associate – Godoy Córdoba | Littler

Effective January 1, 2024, Colombia’s monthly minimum wage increased by 12.07% to COP 1,300,000 and the monthly transportation allowance increased by 15.22% to COP 162,000. These increases will remain in effect throughout 2024.

New Decree Regarding the Recognition and Payment of Maternity, Paternity, and Medical Leaves

New Order or Decree

Author: Gabriela Pacheco, Associate – Godoy Córdoba | Littler

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued Decree 2126 of 2023, which regulates Laws 2114 and 2174 of 2021, related to maternity, paternity, and medical leaves. This Decree provides for modifications of the rules for issuance, recognition and payment of these leaves, such as the salary basis for the calculation of leave payment, and requirements for the issuance of the medical leave certificate.

Colpensiones Increased Pension Payments for 2024 and Reduced Health Contribution for Pensioners

New Order or Decree

Author: Juan José Cataño, Associate – Godoy Córdoba | Littler

The Colombian Pension Administrator (Colpensiones) announced the increase in pension payments for 2024 as follows:

• Pensions for pensioners who were receiving the legal minimum wage (SMMLV) in 2023, which was $1,160,000, will be adjusted to $1,300,000, an increase of 12.069%.
   
• Pensions for pensioners who were receiving more than the legal minimum wage in 2023, will be adjusted according to the variation in the Consumer Price Index (IPC) of 2023, which was 9.28%.

Additionally, Colpensiones announced that starting this year, pensioners in Colombia receiving monthly payments between $2,600,001 and $3,900,000 will experience a 10% reduction in their required health contributions.

Vice Minister of Labor Calls for Early Reduction of Maximum Weekly Working Hours

Trend

Author: Juan José Cataño, Associate – Godoy Córdoba | Littler

Law 2101/21, which went into effect on July 15, 2023, provides for the gradual reduction of the 48-hour workweek to a 42-hour workweek by July 2026. Employers can choose to make the change gradually or in a single early adjustment. Vice Minister of Labor Relations and Inspection Edwin Palma Egea recently emphasized that approximately 25,000 workers in Colombia already have a 42-hour weekly schedule and urged early implementation of the workweek reduction by other employers.