The Council of State annulled two decrees requiring local qualified staff in oil and mining projects. ACIPET, the petroleum engineers association, welcomed the decision for advancing merit-based hiring.
The Council of State nullified provisions in Decrees 2089 of 2014 and 1668 of 2016. The rules had required extractive projects to reserve minimum percentages of qualified and professional jobs for local residents. Law 136 of 1994, later amended by Law 1551 of 2012, only authorized priority for non-qualified local labor. ACIPET had sued the decrees for exceeding government powers. Oscar Ferney Rincón, ACIPET executive director, said the ruling advances legal certainty and meritocracy. The association noted the decision respects regional employment under current law.