Night Shifts and Leave Among the Most Controversial Parts of the Labor Reform

Labor attorney Camilo Cuervo was interviewed by La República about Colombia's labor reform, which will begin its third round of debate in Congress. He highlighted some of the most controversial measures, including the extension of the night shift, gradual increase in paternity leave and formalization of apprenticeship agreements. Mr. Cuervo commented that the change to the nighttime schedule will "do away with night work in Colombia" and argued that the transformation of apprenticeships "is perhaps the worst of the errors that can be committed."

"By making the apprenticeship agreement a labor contract, ignoring its nature of being a contract to learn and not to work, what they are doing is making it so that companies will try not to hire those apprentices who were previously very useful, if you will, for the training of new talent, and they prefer to monetize the fee," he said.

READ: Night Shifts and Leave Among the Most Controversial Parts of the Labor Reform