The Colombian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Acopi) has warned that advancing the night shift to 7:00 p.m., effective from December 25, 2025, will raise labor costs for small and medium-sized enterprises. Acopi president María Elena Ospina Torres stated that this extends night surcharges and may drive informality in sectors like retail and tourism. The change is part of Law 2466 of 2025, aimed at protecting workers.
The labor regulation change under Law 2466 of 2025 has raised concerns among small and medium-sized enterprises in Colombia. Starting December 25, 2025, the night shift begins at 7:00 p.m. instead of the previous 9:00 p.m., extending surcharges until 6:00 a.m. This adjustment, according to Acopi executive president María Elena Ospina Torres, will directly increase operational costs for mipymes, which form the bulk of the country's business fabric.
In statements to La FM, Ospina Torres emphasized that sectors with extended hours will be hit hardest, including retail trade, gastronomy, bars, tourism, transportation, health, and private security. These rely on shifts that now qualify for higher night premiums. "In a mipyme, it's not just about changing a schedule; reorganizing night shifts is a complex process," the guild leader stated.
Financial constraints make adaptation difficult for these firms, as they cannot readily hire extra staff to offset the shift. Consequently, many may turn to informality to dodge the added expenses, even though the reform aims to bolster worker protections. Ospina Torres acknowledged the intent to improve labor conditions but cautioned that, alongside the recent minimum wage hike and other duties, it could erode employment formality.
Moreover, mipymes grapple with structural issues, such as limited automation in manufacturing, intensifying the economic strain. Acopi calls for a review to balance worker safeguards with small business sustainability.
