MAP16 Project activities in Colombia

The project contributes to the promotion of decent work in Colombia by strengthening the Ministry of Labour’s capacity for labour inspection. It provides technical assistance to improve compliance with national laws related to internationally recognized labour rights and promotes the creation of digital platforms based on data that allows labour inspectors to issue a more effective and efficient response.

National context

Colombia has made progress across a number of areas, including the creation of the Ministry of Labour in 2011, doubling the number of labour inspector positions in the ministry, and achieving a significant decrease in the use of false worker cooperatives that undermine workers’ rights. However, despite the adoption of new and revised laws, regulations, and other legal instruments, significant labour challenges remain for workers in Colombia. While the use of worker cooperatives that do not truly represent workers has decreased in some priority sectors in the country, other forms of illegal subcontracting have increased, often keeping workers in informality.

The Ministry of Labour’s capacity to enforce labour laws across priority sectors is limited, where a range of resource, structural, and other law enforcement challenges exist. It implies targeted inspections and improves the processes of fine collection to ensure labour laws are enforced in priority sectors.

The project aims to address problems and challenges to improve labour inspections and build better conditions for decent work, including protecting against child labour and forced labour.

The strategies have a particular emphasis to strengthen capabilities on labour inspectors through strategic planning, a Virtual Campus to ensure continuous training processes and implement innovative resources by using technologies and digital systems such as the Labour Inspection Case Management System and Virtual Campus (SISINFO) and "Fondo para el Fortalecimiento de la Inspección Vigilancia y Control del Trabajo y Seguridad Social" (FIVICOT), both systems to strengthen their work, collection of data and fines.

Project activities

The project activities in Colombia include:
  • promoting the use of the Labour Inspection Case Management System and Virtual Campus (SISINFO);
  • guaranteeing the sustainability and use of the Virtual Campus;
  • promoting the use of strategic compliance planning; and
  • assisting in the development of the software for fine collection (FIVICOT).

Partners

Ministry of Labour of Colombia

Target beneficiaries

More than 900 labour inspectors and 36 Regional Offices and Special Offices from the Department of Inspection, Surveillance and Control of the Ministry of Labour.