Asocajas held its Gran Foro de Protección Social on April 8, where experts discussed Colombia's high labor informality and the need for macroeconomic solutions. David Escobar Arango, president of Asocajas' Board, opened the event noting that formal employment is stagnant despite falling unemployment. Panelists including José Ignacio López of Anif, María Claudia Lacouture of Aliadas, and César Giraldo of Banco de la República addressed minimum wage and inflation.
Asocajas' Gran Foro de Protección Social took place on April 8. David Escobar Arango, president of the Board of Directors, opened the event stating that the compensation system covers less than 50% of society. He highlighted demographic changes, technological shifts in digital platforms, and the third labor revolution toward independent work, with 60% of workers informal despite progress in cities like Bogotá, Manizales, and Medellín.
José Ignacio López, president of Anif, moderated a panel on the labor market, minimum wage, and inflation, featuring María Claudia Lacouture of Aliadas and César Giraldo, co-director of Banco de la República. López said "la informalidad permea la discusión sectorial", citing 85% in agriculture and 87% in firms with 1-5 employees. "La informalidad laboral es un gran problema, para la mayoría de los trabajadores del país estas conversaciones son inocuas porque no están en la formalidad", he added.
Lacouture criticized growth driven by unsustainable consumption and construction lags, urging clear rules to attract investment and boost formality. Giraldo defended real minimum wage increases since 2022, which have aligned with falling unemployment and inflation, and called for flexible labor relations and social protection for non-salaried workers.
Antonio Sanguino Páez, Labor Minister, stressed closing social and territorial gaps through inclusive governance in institutions like compensation funds.
