Colombia: Containing the Virus While Supporting the Formal Sector and the Unemployed

On July 9, 2020, the Colombian government extended the mandatory preventive isolation until August 1, 2020, while allowing the reactivation of some sectors under strict hygiene conditions and protocols. However, as the regional governments have the power to implement different measures according to their respective Covid-19 infection rate, some cities have required a second lockdown fragmented by sectors, which prevents some areas of the cities of any activity not categorized as essential, as Bogota did starting on July 13 until August 23, 2020.

Taking into account the measures established by the Decree 770 during the Emergency State, through Resolution 1361 of 2020 and the External Circular N. 3, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the Pension and Payroll contributions Unit (UGPP by its Spanish acronym) regulated the access to the state contribution to help the employers paying the legal service bonus for the first semester of the year (PAP by its Spanish acronym).

Finally, the Ministry of Labor regulated the special access and recognition of the Protection Mechanism for the Unemployed through the Resolution 1260, which was modified by the Decrees 488 and 770 of 2020 in order to amplify its scope, normally regulated by the Law 1636 of 2013.

For additional information on any matter related to labor issues in Colombia, please contact Alejandro Castellanos (Partner) of López & Asociados at alejandro.castellanos@lopezasociados.net or visit www.lopezasociados.net

For more information please contact Joseph Granato, Communications Manager at L&E Global at joseph.granato@leglobal.org.