Effective July 15, 2026, Colombia's maximum workweek was reduced from 44 to 42 hours under Law 2101 of 2021. The change does not affect salaries for private sector workers.
The gradual reduction of the workweek began in 2023, when the limit dropped from 48 to 47 hours. It moved to 46 hours in 2024, 44 hours in 2025, and now reaches 42 hours.
The measure applies only to private sector employees covered by the Código Sustantivo del Trabajo. It does not affect public servants or workers under special contracting regimes.
In Latin America, Colombia now ranks as the fourth country with the shortest legal workweek, behind Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela, which have a 40-hour limit. Nine countries still maintain a maximum of 48 hours per week.
