Mass Protests Erupt in Colombia Backing Petro’s Labour Reform Push

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Tens of thousands of Colombians flooded the streets on Wednesday in support of President Gustavo Petro’s proposed labour reforms, defying a recent wave of violence that has rattled the nation.

Demonstrators gathered in Bogota, Cali, and other major cities to endorse Petro’s labour reform agenda, despite heightened security concerns. The protests coincided with ongoing Senate debates over an alternative version of the reform bill, which critics argue falls short of ensuring better protections for workers.

While Petro’s original reform proposes increased pay for Sunday and holiday work, adjustments to weekly working hours, and overtime rules, the bill under Senate discussion is a less progressive version. Labour unions argue the rival draft does not do enough to enhance workers’ rights.

According to economist Jorge Restrepo of Javeriana University, the protests are a strategic move by the government to pressure lawmakers into adopting more worker-friendly provisions. “The government may be politically weakened, but the reform is likely to pass,” Restrepo said.

The Senate initially postponed sessions in tribute to Senator Uribe but resumed debates within 24 hours. A vote on the reform package is expected by Thursday, potentially shaping the future of labour policy in Colombia amid one of its most politically volatile moments in recent history.

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