Progress Update - April 12, 2024

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

The Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation (CCOALC), the side agreement on labour to the free trade agreement between the two countries, includes high-level obligations and enforceable commitments to promote and protect internationally recognized labour rights.

In response to a Public Communication submitted to the Canadian National Administrative Office in 2016 as provided for in the CCOALC, Canada and Colombia developed and signed an Action Plan. In the latter, Colombia committed to undertake and implement specific measures to strengthen labour rights in the country. At the time, Canada stressed the need for an in-depth analysis to bring about labour law reforms, notably to protect workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Since the Action Plan was signed in 2018, Colombia has taken concrete steps to effectively implement the Action Plan. However, while there is still much work to be done, Canada is encouraged by the efforts of Colombia in the context of the current discussions in the country on the proposed labour reform.

The labour reform aims, among others, to eliminate union contracts, regulate collective pacts, and prevent the misuse of short-term contracts and subcontracting. These reform objectives are in general consistent with Canada’s position and recommendations as established in the Action Plan.

Canada supports Colombia’s efforts to comply with its international commitments, including the Action Plan under the CCOALC. Canada also remains committed to continue working cooperatively with Colombia to protect the effective exercise of workers’ rights.