Daily hour value will rise 2.3% with a reduction in the working day

Law 2101 of 2021 establishes that, with its entry into force, the working day in Colombia will have a gradual annual reduction until it reaches 42 hours per week in 2026.

On July 16, 2023, this regulation will come into force, which means that the weekly working day of Colombian workers will go from the current 48 hours to 47.

(More news: Entrepreneurs adjust models to adapt to a new day)

The Ministry of Labor explained that the decrease in working time will not affect the value of the salary or the rights and guarantees of employees. However, It will mean changes in the way in which the hours are settled and calculated.

The foregoing implies an increase in the value of the ordinary work hour, since for less time worked, the worker will continue to earn the same remuneration. In other words, this increase will compensate for the reduced time in the working day.

According to Carlos Mario Sandoval, lead partner of People Advisory Services for EY Colombia, with the implementation of the law, “We are not going to talk about 8 hours a day but about 7.83, with 47 hours a week. That will generate a higher value in the payment of the hour, of around 2.13%”.

(Read more: Value of daily hours will have an adjustment due to the reduction of the working day)

(See: Can they lower your salary with the reduction in working hours?)

In this regard, the Ministry of Labor indicated that with the decrease in the ordinary working day Employers must calculate the new value of the work hour to settle the value of overtime and night, Sunday and holiday surchargesalways respecting the principle of favourability.

In addition, it must be taken into account that the regulations indicate that the employer and the worker may agree on how to distribute the established working hours, in 5 or 6 days a week, always guaranteeing the day of rest.

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