Colombian Lawmakers Block President Petro’s Labor Reform Referendum

Colombian lawmakers rejected a referendum proposed by President Gustavo Petro to reform labor laws, including limiting work hours and ensuring holiday pay. The vote was close, with 49 against and 47 in favor. Petro condemned the result, calling it fraudulent, and accused Congress of ignoring public demands. A minority of congressmen has found a way to challenge the previous dismissal of the proposal, allowing further debate before a June deadline.

The Colombian legislature has once again thwarted President Gustavo Petro’s attempts to reform the country’s labor laws. On Wednesday, lawmakers rejected a referendum intended to solicit public opinion on key labor issues, including limits on work hours and holiday pay rates. The proposed referendum aimed to ask voters whether workdays should be capped at eight hours and if employees should receive double wages for working on holidays. Petro had previously urged Congress to support this measure
to allow citizens to express their views after lawmakers had turned down similar reforms twice before.

During a Labor Day event on May 1, President Petro cautioned legislators against blocking the referendum, implying that voters might express their frustration during the 2026 elections should they do so. Following a tense debate, the results from Wednesday’s vote revealed that 49 senators opposed the referendum while 47 supported it.

As the first leftist president of Colombia, Petro expressed deep disappointment over the outcome, declaring the vote to be fraudulent. He has frequently accused the Congress of disregarding the needs of Colombians and impeding his social reform agenda. The referendum would have addressed crucial concerns over issues such as terminating workdays at 6 p.m. and the potential provision of open-ended contracts to promote job stability.

In a twist of legislative strategy, a minority group of congressmen managed to bring forth a rarely utilized appeal, challenging the previous dismissal of Petro’s labor reform proposal from March. This action permits legislators another chance to debate these reforms with a pressing deadline set for June 20 to come to an agreement.

In summary, Colombian lawmakers have emphatically rejected President Gustavo Petro’s referendum on labor reforms, a development that highlights the ongoing tension between the executive and legislative branches. With the vote falling narrowly against the reform measures, Petro’s administration faces a struggle to regroup, as lawmakers now have a final opportunity to revisit the labor proposals before the June deadline.

Original Source: www.newsday.com