Colombia Employment Law Update: Annual Legal Duties, 2022

Increase in the minimum wage and comprehensive minimum wage

Every employer has an obligation to increase the minimum wage and the comprehensive minimum wage. That is, as of January 1, 2022, workers must be paid at least a salary of COP$1,000,000. For those workers who earn a full salary, they must be paid at least COP$13,000,000.  

Payment of social benefits

Additional monthly salary, excluding workers who earn full salary, employers must pay the social benefits established by the Law.   

Economic benefits:  

1.Severance Allowance = 1 month’s salary per year of service. It must be settled every December 31 and entered in a special fund chosen by the worker before February 15 of the following year. 

2.Severance interest = 12% per annum calculated on the value of the severance. It must be paid to the worker during the month of January of each year.

3.ServiceP rhymes = 15 days’ salary is paid each semester. Payment dates June 30 and December 20. 

Benefits in kind: 

1.Endowment:1 overalls or dress and a pair of shoes every four months to workers who earn up to two minimum wages per month. Delivery dates April 30, August 30 and December 30. No particular quality or value is required.

2.Transportation Assistance: consists of the payment of a fixed sum of money monthly to workers who earn up to two minimum wages, which for the year 2022 is COP$117,172. 

Holidays

Each year workers are entitled to 15 working days of paid rest. It is mandatory for workers to enjoy at least 6 working days of vacation per year.

Occupational Health and Safety Management System (SG-OSH)

After implementing the SG-OSH, employers have periodic obligations that they must meet.   

1.Joint Committee on Safety and Health at Work: the Committee must meet monthly.

2.Labor Coexistence Committee: the Committee must meet quarterly.  

3.Annual Risk Prevention Training Program: Personnel should be trained annually on the hazards to which they may be exposed in their work and ways to control the risks.  

4.Annual work plan: the annual work plan must be adjusted every year in order to update the goals, responsibilities, resources, schedule of activities, among others.

5.Periodic medical evaluations: In order to constantly monitor the risk factors faced by workers, it is suggested to conduct an annual medical evaluation. 

By LLOREDA CAMACHO & CO, Colombia, a Transatlantic Law International Affiliated Firm.  

For further information or for any assistance please contact colombia@transatlanticlaw.com 

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