President Gustavo Petro emphasized that companies must allow entry to Ministry of Labor inspectors, under penalty of fines. This arose after a complaint about Alpina's initial refusal to inspect its plant in Sopó, Cundinamarca. Inspectors finally gained access around noon.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro publicly intervened in a labor inspection case by addressing Alpina directly via his X account. In his message, Petro stated: “Señores de Alpina, el ingreso de inspectores de trabajo es perentorio y está bajo la ley, no se expongan a sanciones”. This came amid reports that the company had blocked Ministry of Labor officials from entering its plant in Sopó, Cundinamarca.
Fabio Arias Giraldo, president of Colombia's Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) labor union, confirmed the initial blockage and called it illegal. Giraldo noted that the inspection stemmed from complaints filed by plant workers. “No se había permitido, la empresa Alpina, el ingreso de los funcionarios del Ministerio del Trabajo a la planta de Sopó”, he detailed. The CUT demanded access to verify working conditions.
Hours later, around 12:00 p.m., the Ministry of Labor successfully entered the facilities to conduct the inspection. Petro reiterated the need to comply with labor regulations, noting that refusal could result in penalties for the company. This incident highlights the government's role in safeguarding workers' rights through routine and complaint-driven inspections.
