Colombian President Urges Changes in Health Care and Labor as New Session of Congress Opens

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For health care, Petro wants a government agency to collect billions of dollars in insurance premiums from Colombians, cutting out the private insurance companies that currently run much of the health system.

In the labor sector, he wants to make it harder for companies to hire workers on temporary contracts and also require employers to pay workers full wages on rest days. He also proposed Saturday that lawmakers shorten the work week from 47 hours to 40 hours, saying that this could increase employment and boost productivity.

Petro told Congress on Saturday that the 16% increase in the minimum wage last year has helped reduce poverty. According to the National Statistics Office, poverty will have decreased by 10% in 2023, and is now at the same level as in 2019.

“We are delivering on our promises” to reduce inequality, the president said.

Petro is nearly halfway through his four-year term, which ends in August 2026. Critics say his government is struggling to contain inflation and collect taxes.

In his speech to Congress, Petro urged Colombia’s central bank to cut interest rates as a way to stimulate economic growth. He suggested that Congress could help curb inflation by controlling “speculation” in real estate rentals and curbing electricity costs.

Petro also said his administration will introduce a bill that would allow Congress to quickly approve legislation related to Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. He said implementation of the agreement has lagged in areas such as land distribution and economic development projects for rural communities.

Critics have raised concerns about efforts to fast-track legislation, arguing that such mechanisms could be used to give the president more power and eliminate term limits.