Amid threats and tension, labor is experiencing a crucial week in Congress.

The Petro administration's labor reform will enter the most decisive phase this week in the race against time to become law, despite the charged atmosphere of political tension, institutional warnings, and internal pressures within the presidential cabinet that it must overcome.

All this, taking into account that if it fails to overcome this process and be reconciled with the Chamber before June 20, the text will sink again due to lack of processing; despite the fact that it was revived in the choice of a lesser evil that sought to avoid a referendum that has once again come to life.

More information: The three hypotheses that authorities are considering regarding the attack on Miguel Uribe

The initiative, presented by the Ministry of Labor in March 2024, proposes a structural transformation of the Colombian labor model. Its key points include the formalization of labor, the expansion of rights for historically excluded sectors, and the strengthening of collective bargaining.

However, despite his good intentions, his time in Congress has been marked by a bitter struggle between the executive branch, business associations, and some independent parties, as well as marches called by labor unions, rejecting the collapse of the official proposal and the advancement of a reform that the Casa de Nariño government described as a "Frankenstein-like" reform.

A slow process

Although the bill's processing officially began this Monday, June 9, with the call for debate in the Senate plenary, there has still been no substantial progress, and legislators are far from fully focused on the text. Although there are less than two weeks left, and according to congressional sources, recent public order incidents could lead to the start of the debate being delayed longer than expected.

Last week, before its final submission, only three substantial modifications were introduced , according to those responsible: two benefiting SENA apprentices and one in favor of small businesses. The first is to guarantee that apprentices are affiliated with the health system during their academic years, correcting an ambiguity in the previous text. The second will allow them to certify their internship as work experience, a right they had not had until now.

See also: Inflation expected to resume downward trend in May, albeit with disparities

In addition, a simple monthly severance pay contribution system was introduced, allowing employers to make gradual contributions to the severance fund and avoiding year-end accumulation of payments. This is intended to streamline administrative processes and allow employees' balances to earn returns from the first month.

A public policy article was also added for the formalization of transporters, a sector historically affected by informality. In response to the wave of misinformation about part-time work, the senator clarified that the provisions established since 1990 are unchanged, and that there are no changes to the part-time work regulated by Decree 1072 of 2013.

The tone rises

In recent statements, the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, surprised the country by suggesting that, if the labor reform is approved by the Senate, the Government could desist from calling the popular consultation announced by President Gustavo Petro, given that it would help guarantee

"It's a very distant hypothetical future, but the truth is that we've always had a hard time with Congress, where they've sunk all of the government's social reforms. In that scenario, one might consider abandoning the referendum. However, now comes the most difficult stage in the Senate plenary session," Benedetti stated.

Featured News: ' He remains in critical condition': New health report released for Miguel Uribe

It's worth remembering that his remarks came after the limited citizen mobilization that supported the May 28 marches, called to support the executive branch's legislative agenda, as the decline in street protests forced the government to play all its cards in the parliamentary arena.

Likewise, while Benedetti opened the door to withdrawing the consultation, President Petro adopted an opposing position and through his account on X (formerly Twitter), issued a direct warning in which he stated that " Any Minister who does not sign the presidential decree immediately will leave. Presidential power is the power of the people."

Specifically, Petro is seeking to have the decree calling for the referendum, scheduled for August 7, signed in Cali this Wednesday, June 11, during a mobilization organized by like-minded social groups. This will keep the referendum open if Congress again blocks his reforms, despite the various warnings that have emerged on this front.

Another perspective in this debate is that of the Attorney General's Office, which joined the debate through Attorney General Gregorio Eljach Pacheco, who stated that if the labor reform is approved with the restoration of rights lost over the last two decades, the referendum "would make no sense."

Read also: The Colombian cities where the most time is lost in traffic

"I urge common sense, dialogue, and the use of the platforms that democracy provides to resolve our differences. This is the time for institutions, not for leaders or emotions," said Eljach, who also warned that any public servant who acts outside the constitutional framework will be subject to disciplinary review.

While the political battle rages in Bogotá, the government received a technical boost in Geneva when Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino met with Gilbert Houngbo, director of the International Labor Organization (ILO), who expressed his support for the reform approach.

The government's initiative includes commitments derived from more than 15 international conventions ratified by Colombia, including Convention 87 on freedom of association, Convention 98 on collective bargaining, and Convention 111 on non-discrimination. It also includes Recommendation 208, which requires guaranteeing quality apprenticeships, as well as regulations on working hours and weekly rest.

This international support seeks to protect the reform from internal criticism, particularly regarding respect for fundamental labor rights.

Thus, with less than 15 days before the end of the regular sessions, Congress faces a countdown. If the Senate approves the bill this week, it would still require reconciliation of the texts with the House, where there were substantial differences on key articles.

Furthermore, any reform approved amid institutional pressure or controversy could be challenged before the Constitutional Court. Therefore, not only the content of the reform is at stake, but also the political and legal stability of the country. If the reform passes, the government will be able to celebrate a legislative victory, but if it fails, the scenario will be even more uncertain, with a president determined to go to the polls by decree.