Colombia’s Top Court Blocks President’s Labor Vote, Sparking Debate on Who Decides Work Rules

Colombia’s highest administrative court stopped President Gustavo Petro’s plan to let citizens vote on big changes to work laws. The court said Petro needed the Senate’s approval before calling a national vote, but he went ahead without it.

This decision has started a major debate about who gets to decide the country’s work rules—the president, Congress, or the people. President Petro wanted a national vote to ask Colombians about new work rules.

These included making the workday eight hours, raising pay for weekend and holiday work, and giving gig workers, like app drivers, more job protections.

He also wanted to help workers in rural areas and people with disabilities get better jobs. Petro said these changes would help millions of workers and fix long-standing problems.

But Colombia’s constitution says the Senate must approve any national vote like this. In May 2025, the Senate voted against Petro’s plan by a small margin.

Some senators said Petro was ignoring the rules and trying to get around Congress. They took the case to the court, which then blocked the president’s plan.

The court’s decision means the national vote cannot happen unless the Senate agrees. The court said following the rules is important for democracy and that the president cannot act alone on such big issues.

Now, the Constitutional Court is also reviewing whether Petro’s plan was legal. While this was happening, Congress passed a new version of the labor reform.

This bill includes many of the same ideas, like shorter workdays and better pay for some workers. However, it still needs final approval before it becomes law. If Congress passes the reform, Petro says he will cancel the national vote.

The fight over these work rules matters for Colombia’s future. Business groups worry that the changes could make it harder to create new jobs and raise costs for companies. Supporters say the reforms will make jobs fairer and help those who need it most.

Organizing a national vote would also cost hundreds of millions of dollars and would need at least 13 million people to vote “yes” for it to pass. This episode shows how Colombia’s leaders are struggling over who should decide important rules about work.

The court’s decision reminds everyone that big changes must follow the law, and that no one can make these decisions alone. For workers, businesses, and voters, the outcome will shape how jobs and the economy work in Colombia for years to come.

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