A New Reduction in the Workday Comes Into Effect in Colombia This Week
This week, Colombian workers will experience another reduction in their working hours. Under Law 2101 of 2021, the country’s maximum ordinary working time will be reduced from 44 to 42 hours per week, a reduction of two hours compared with the limit in force until now.
The key date will be Wednesday, July 15, when the measure will take effect. Its implementation has been gradual: in 2022, the maximum workweek was 48 hours; in 2023 it was reduced to 47 hours; in 2024 it fell to 46 hours; and in 2025 it was reduced to 44 hours.
Daily shift cannot exceed nine hours
With the adjustment that will take effect this Wednesday, the schedule established by the law will be completed, without implying any reduction in salaries or affecting workers’ acquired rights and guarantees. The law seeks to improve workers’ quality of life and the balance between their personal and professional lives.
With the entry into force of the maximum 42-hour workweek, the monthly working time will be set at 182 hours. At the same time, the hours included in the salary will be reduced to 214. This latest change represents an additional reduction of 8.67 hours per month compared with the previous year.
The law establishes that any work performed beyond the legal 42 hours must be compensated as overtime, taking into account whether it is night work or work performed on Sundays, which carries an additional premium.
Another aspect covered by the law is that a daily shift cannot be shorter than four hours, but it also cannot exceed nine hours.
In other words, if a worker is scheduled for a nine-hour shift in order to comply with the 42-hour workweek, but has hours reduced on another day, no overtime is generated as long as the weekly average is 42 hours and does not exceed that limit.
However, there is a group of workers who are not covered by this law because of the functions they perform, such as management, trust, and supervisory employees, security personnel under a special regime, and workers with special work schedules due to hazardous or unhealthy activities.
In the case of management and trust positions, such as managers or finance directors, the legislation establishes that they are not subject to the maximum weekly working hours because their duties involve representing the employer and making strategic decisions.
Another benefit for workers began in July
Colombian workers also received another benefit on July 1 with the increase in the premium for working on Sundays and public holidays, which rose to 90% of the ordinary hourly wage.
The adjustment to Sunday and holiday pay is part of the gradual implementation of another law, Law 2466 of 2025, which established a timetable to progressively increase the premium paid to employees who work on mandatory rest days.
The Sunday and holiday premium stood at 80% between July 2025 and June 2026. Before that period, through June 2025, the rate was 75%. Under the new stage of the law, beginning in July 2026 the premium increases to 90% and, according to the established timetable, will reach 100% starting in July 2027.
The measure applies to workers who provide their services on Sundays and public holidays. In those cases, their pay must include the additional percentage on top of the ordinary hourly wage, according to the period of validity established by the law.
This change has a direct impact on payroll calculations for employees who work on mandatory rest days.