Labor & Employment
Legal Obligations
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COMPANIES
THERE ARE 4 MAIN DUTIES:
1. Increase in minimum wage and integral minimum wage
Every employer has the obligation to increase the minimum wage and the integral minimum wage. That is, as of January 1, 2026, a minimum salary of COP $1.750.905 must be paid to the employees. For those employees who earn an integral salary, they must be paid, at least, COP $22.761.765.
2. Payment of fringe benefits
In addition to the monthly salary, excluding employees who earn an integral salary, employers must pay the fringe benefits established by Law.
2.1 Economic Benefits:
- Severance = 1 month of salary per year of services. It must be liquidated every December 31 and transferred to a special fund chosen by the employee before February 15 of the following year.
- Interest over Severance = 12% annual calculated over the value of the severance. It must be paid to the employee during the month of January of each year.
- Legal Bonus = Each semester, 15 days of salary are paid. Payment dates June 30 and December 20.
2.2 Benefits in kind:
- Footwear and Clothing: 1 footwear and clothing every 4 months to employees who earn up to 2 minimum wages per month. This benefit must be given on April 30, August 31, and December 20. A certain quality or value is not required.
- Legal Transportation allowance: Consists of the monthly payment of a fixed sum to employees who earn up to two minimum wages, which for 2026 is COP $249.095.
3. Vacations
Every year the employee has the right to 15 working days of paid leave. It is mandatory that employees enjoy, at least, 6 business days of vacation per year.
4. Health and Security Control System (SG-SST)
After implementing the SG-SST, employers have periodic obligations that they must comply with.
- Health and Safety Committee: The committee must meet monthly.
- Labor Harassment Prevention Committee: The committee must meet every month.
- Annual risk prevention training program: Staff must be trained annually on the risks to which they may be exposed in their work and ways of controlling said risks.
- Annual work plan:
The annual work plan must be adjusted every year to update the goals, responsibilities, resources, schedule of activities, among others.
- Periodic medical evaluations: To constantly monitor the risk factors that employees face, an annual medical evaluation is suggested.
BRANCHES OF FOREIGN COMPANIES
THERE ARE 4 MAIN DUTIES:
1. Increase in minimum wage and integral minimum wage
Every employer has the obligation to increase the minimum wage and the integral minimum wage. That is, as of January 1, 2026, a minimum salary of COP $1.750.905 must be paid to the employees. For those employees who earn an integral salary, they must be paid, at least, COP $22.761.765.
2. Payment of fringe benefits
In addition to the monthly salary, excluding employees who earn an integral salary, employers must pay the fringe benefits established by Law.
2.1 Economic Benefits:
- Severance = 1 month of salary per year of services. It must be liquidated every December 31 and transferred to a special fund chosen by the employee before February 15 of the following year.
- Interest over Severance = 12% annual calculated over the value of the severance. It must be paid to the employee during the month of January of each year.
- Legal Bonus = Each semester, 15 days of salary are paid. Payment dates June 30 and December 20.
2.2 Benefits in kind:
- Footwear and Clothing: 1 footwear and clothing every 4 months to employees who earn up to 2 minimum wages per month. This benefit must be given on April 30, August 31, and December 20. A certain quality or value is not required.
- Legal Transportation allowance: Consists of the monthly payment of a fixed sum to employees who earn up to two minimum wages, which for 2026 is COP $249.095.
3. Vacations
Every year the employee has the right to 15 working days of paid leave. It is mandatory that employees enjoy, at least, 6 business days of vacation per year.
4. Health and Security Control System (SG-SST)
After implementing the SG-SST, employers have periodic obligations that they must comply with.
- Health and Safety Committee: The committee must meet monthly.
- Labor Harassment Prevention Committee: The committee must meet every month.
- Annual risk prevention training program: Staff must be trained annually on the risks to which they may be exposed in their work and ways of controlling said risks.
- Annual work plan:
The annual work plan must be adjusted every year to update the goals, responsibilities, resources, schedule of activities, among others.
- Periodic medical evaluations: To constantly monitor the risk factors that employees face, an annual medical evaluation is suggested.
COLOMBIAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
THERE ARE 4 MAIN DUTIES:
1. Increase in minimum wage and integral minimum wage
Every employer has the obligation to increase the minimum wage and the integral minimum wage. That is, as of January 1, 2026, a minimum salary of COP $1.750.905 must be paid to the employees. For those employees who earn an integral salary, they must be paid, at least, COP $22.761.765.
2. Payment of fringe benefits
In addition to the monthly salary, excluding employees who earn an integral salary, employers must pay the fringe benefits established by Law.
2.1 Economic Benefits:
- Severance = 1 month of salary per year of services. It must be liquidated every December 31 and transferred to a special fund chosen by the employee before February 15 of the following year.
- Interest over Severance = 12% annual calculated over the value of the severance. It must be paid to the employee during the month of January of each year.
- Legal Bonus = Each semester, 15 days of salary are paid. Payment dates June 30 and December 20.
2.2 Benefits in kind:
- Footwear and Clothing: 1 footwear and clothing every 4 months to employees who earn up to 2 minimum wages per month. This benefit must be given on April 30, August 31, and December 20. A certain quality or value is not required.
- Legal Transportation allowance: Consists of the monthly payment of a fixed sum to employees who earn up to two minimum wages, which for 2026 is COP $249.095.
3. Vacations
Every year the employee has the right to 15 working days of paid leave. It is mandatory that employees enjoy, at least, 6 business days of vacation per year.
4. Health and Security Control System (SG-SST)
After implementing the SG-SST, employers have periodic obligations that they must comply with.
- Health and Safety Committee: The committee must meet monthly.
- Labor Harassment Prevention Committee: The committee must meet every month.
- Annual risk prevention training program: Staff must be trained annually on the risks to which they may be exposed in their work and ways of controlling said risks.
- Annual work plan:
The annual work plan must be adjusted every year to update the goals, responsibilities, resources, schedule of activities, among others.
- Periodic medical evaluations: To constantly monitor the risk factors that employees face, an annual medical evaluation is suggested.
FOREIGN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
THERE ARE 4 MAIN DUTIES:
1. Increase in minimum wage and integral minimum wage
Every employer has the obligation to increase the minimum wage and the integral minimum wage. That is, as of January 1, 2026, a minimum salary of COP $1.750.905 must be paid to the employees. For those employees who earn an integral salary, they must be paid, at least, COP $22.761.765.
2. Payment of fringe benefits
In addition to the monthly salary, excluding employees who earn an integral salary, employers must pay the fringe benefits established by Law.
2.1 Economic Benefits:
- Severance = 1 month of salary per year of services. It must be liquidated every December 31 and transferred to a special fund chosen by the employee before February 15 of the following year.
- Interest over Severance = 12% annual calculated over the value of the severance. It must be paid to the employee during the month of January of each year.
- Legal Bonus = Each semester, 15 days of salary are paid. Payment dates June 30 and December 20.
2.2 Benefits in kind:
- Footwear and Clothing: 1 footwear and clothing every 4 months to employees who earn up to 2 minimum wages per month. This benefit must be given on April 30, August 31, and December 20. A certain quality or value is not required.
- Legal Transportation allowance: Consists of the monthly payment of a fixed sum to employees who earn up to two minimum wages, which for 2026 is COP $249.095.
3. Vacations
Every year the employee has the right to 15 working days of paid leave. It is mandatory that employees enjoy, at least, 6 business days of vacation per year.
4. Health and Security Control System (SG-SST)
After implementing the SG-SST, employers have periodic obligations that they must comply with.
- Health and Safety Committee: The committee must meet monthly.
- Labor Harassment Prevention Committee: The committee must meet every month.
- Annual risk prevention training program: Staff must be trained annually on the risks to which they may be exposed in their work and ways of controlling said risks.
- Annual work plan:
The annual work plan must be adjusted every year to update the goals, responsibilities, resources, schedule of activities, among others.
- Periodic medical evaluations: To constantly monitor the risk factors that employees face, an annual medical evaluation is suggested.