From December 25, 2025, Colombia will begin to apply one of the most important adjustments to the labor reform, related to the redefinition of the night shift and the corresponding economic recognition for workers who work during this period..
The measure forces employers and employees to adapt their operational and contractual regulations to the new applicable regulations.
The reform stipulates that the night shift no longer starts at 9:00 p.m., but at 7:00 p.m. and lasts until 6:00 a.mwhich extends the period in which night surcharges are to be recognized.
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This change has a direct impact on the calculation of compensation for thousands of employees who perform their duties in the evenings and at night.
According to the provisions of the standard, those who provide their services from the 7:00 p.m They must receive the appropriate supplement for night work, even if their shift starts earlier. This means that the working hours between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., which were previously considered day work, are now night work. for payment purposes.
In relation to salary, the adjustment has a direct impact on the value of the hour worked. Based on the minimum wage that came into force 2025set to 1,423,500 pesoscorresponds to one hour of work per day 6,189 pesos. In contrast, Night time is 8,355 pesosProduct of the surcharge determined by labor law. These values must be updated once the minimum wage is set 2026.
Employees who work their entire shift at night receive the supplement for the entire duration of their shift.according to the new time frame established by the reform. This condition applies to both fixed-term and permanent contracts, as well as to other modalities permitted by law.
Implementing these changes requires companies to clearly inform their workforce about how the new rules will be applied. Internal communication and payroll updates become an essential operational requirementsince ignorance of the rule does not release you from compliance.
From an institutional perspective it is The Ministry of Labor announced that it would carry out inspections, monitoring and control visits to check whether companies correctly apply the provisions on night shifts and salary supplements. Non-compliance may result in administrative sanctions in accordance with current regulations.
Additionally, Employees can use the official channels of the Ministry of Labor to file complaints or reports. if you believe your employment rights have been violated. In parallel, companies can request advice and technical assistance to resolve doubts about the practical implementation of the reform.
The adjustments are not just limited to nighttime. The labor reform also led to changes in contract modelsparticularly with regard to the contract duration and permissible extensions. For employees with existing contracts, employers must clearly set out how many extensions can be requested and under what conditions.
In the selection process Companies are obliged to comply with new rules that aim to increase transparency and contract clarityThis involves checking internal processes and working documents. These changes are part of the transformation package that is moving into the application phase after several months of regulatory transition.
During periods of high work activity such as Christmas and New Year The new timetables and surcharges are particularly relevantas a larger number of workers provide services at night. For this reason, labor authorities reiterated the importance of verifying the relevant payments and settlements during this period.
The entry into force of these provisions marks a point of operational adjustment for the Colombian labor market, in which employers and employees must review shifts, contracts and economic remuneration in accordance with the provisions of the reform, compliance with which is subject to institutional monitoring.
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