Before detailing the new measures the Ministry of Labor is preparing, it is worth looking at the background that prompted the Ministry to overhaul its own inspection system. In recent years, the organization has seen an increase in the volume of requests from the public, including “complaints and petitions, grievances, allegations, proposals and grievances,” which points to historic tensions in the labor market and the need for faster and more targeted responses.
In this scenario, the “inspection with purpose” model emerges, an effort to redefine how compliance with labor and social security standards is monitored. This effort aims not only to modernize procedures but also to incorporate realistic approaches from different groups. To do this, we draw on six perspectives: gender, disabled workers, ethnicities with anti-racist orientation, life course, and intersectionality and difference. They all seek to open up space for previously invisible populations and ensure that future interventions are more precise and aligned with their needs.
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In the new model, inspection visits take on a new priority, but usually without ceasing to address other issues that require immediate action. These include violations of freedom of association, workplace violence, discrimination, non-compliance with social security regulations and lack of health and safety at work. The intention is to make supervision more strategic while at the same time not compromising its responsiveness.
The ministry organized this proposal into seven strategic axes. These include a regional review of working conditions, monitoring progress on labor reforms, consideration for rural areas, protection of trade union freedoms, and components specific to conflict-prone sectors.. Regarding compliance with the reforms, monthly reports will be published where you can observe how the implementation of each provision is progressing.
The rural axis carries special weight. The ministry indicated that one of its objectives is to guarantee the labor rights of agricultural workers and small-scale producers, who are characterized by informality. The roadmap provides for preventive inspections not only of small-scale agricultural operations, but also of general revitalization operations in agribusinesses, especially medium- and large-sized enterprises. The group said such oversight could lead to an administrative sanctions process if violations are found.
The strategy also considers technical assistance in priority areas within the framework of the final peace agreement, with a focus on Pdet municipalities where labor disparities are deeper and opportunities for institutional testing are typically poorer. The announcement of this model caused a stir in the agricultural field. The Colombian Peasants’ Association confirmed that its legal team continues to analyze the draft resolution, but its president Jorge Bedoya recalled that agriculture employs nearly 3 million people, many of whom are in informal working conditions, with rates exceeding 80%.
In light of this situation, unions advocate the need for differentiated labor arrangements that can accommodate the seasonal nature of agricultural work. “What SAC wants with this proposal is precisely that the labor rights of agricultural workers, most of whom are informal, be implemented. However, there is no agreement on labor reform in this sense, and this provision has created a stagnation in this situation,” Bedoya said.
In addition to the agricultural sector, the model includes specialized inspections in port activities, security and civil surveillance, mining and energy, domestic labor and public administration. This verification utilizes platforms such as Rutaport and Sisinfo to compare information and monitor compliance with labor rights in a more rigorous manner.
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