A significant change is reshaping the working lives of thousands of domestic workers in Colombia. The government has implemented new legislation designed to align their rights with those of other labor sectors. The reform, long debated in Congress, clearly defines the maximum number of hours domestic workers can work each day and week. After receiving final approval, the new law sets clear rules for domestic workers in Colombia under the new labor reform.
Once the law takes effect, domestic workers in Colombia—including live-in workers—will have reduced maximum working hours.
One of the reform’s core elements is the mandatory use of formal written contracts for all domestic workers. Regardless of whether the employment is full-time, part-time, or by the day, employers must draft a contract that clearly outlines working conditions, schedules, salaries, and benefits.
Employers must also register these contracts with the Ministry of Labor. This process not only provides legal security for the workers but also helps authorities enforce the law effectively.
Maximum Hours Domestic Workers Can Work Under the Reform
The reform sets the daily work limit for domestic workers at 8 hours. Employers must pay overtime for any work beyond that limit or nighttime surcharges for work after 7:00 p.m.
Regarding the weekly work limit, Law 2101 of 2021 had already started a gradual reduction process.
Currently, the legal maximum workweek in Colombia is 46 hours. However, with this gradual reduction, the government plans to lower the limit to 44 hours per week by July 2025 for all workers, including domestic workers. By July 2026, the standard maximum workweek will drop to 42 hours.
The reform also addresses long-standing differences between live-in and external domestic workers. While external workers have already been subject to the general maximum workweek, live-in workers were previously allowed to work up to 10 hours a day. The new law seeks to equalize these conditions.
Salaries and Benefits for Domestic Workers
Learn about the salary and benefits you must pay your Colombian maid or domestic worker, known as an empleada doméstica, to avoid penalties! Law 1788 of 2016 governs bonuses and vacation pay for domestic workers. Read our article on Salary and Benefits for Colombian Maid or Domestic Worker in order to help you calculate the total benefits you must pay your Colombian maid twice a year.
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