• Despite two congressional rejections, and a failed proposed referendum, the eventual approval of Petro’s labour reform marks a major political win ahead of the 2026 Colombian elections.
• The repeated legislative rejections revealed deep institutional opposition, growing backlash from the business sector, and the limits of Petro’s political coalition.
• Petro’s persistence to pass the reform reflects a broader leftward shift in the Colombian and Latin American political landscape.

Why is Petro’s heat level MILD?

Answer: After 27 months of debates and rejections by congress, Petro’s proposed labour reforms have been approved by the Senate through a majority vote.

After being elected as Colombia’s first leftist leader in 2022, Gustavo Petro has faced significant challenges in implementing his reform agenda. A series of reforms, first proposed by Petro in 2023, was quickly rejected by the Colombian Congress. The bill included reforms concerning health, labour, pensions, taxes, and politics. The bill mandates higher pay for overtime, Sundays, and public holidays, as well as aims to limit the working day to increase access to overtime pay. In addition to needing congressional approval, the reforms require companies to formally hire workers, who have previously been employed in the gig economy, a sector characterised by work that often lacks labour protections. This formalisation aims to provide these workers with social security benefits and limit short-term contract work, amongst other measures to improve worker protections and stability.

In March of 2025, the reform was proposed for a second time, this time focusing solely on the labour reforms. Despite the reintroduction, the proposal was rejected by the Colombian congress once again. In response to this, Petro threatened to hold a referendum by presidential decree in which the public could vote on the reforms. However, the referendum was rejected by Colombia’s Constitutional Court in May of 2025. By then, Petro had announced for the reform to involve 12 questions, covering working hours, pay, labour protections, inclusion, formalisation, and social security.

Petro’s reform agenda unfolds in the shadow of Colombia’s armed conflict and the 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). While the agreement aimed to open space for political inclusion, lingering distrust toward leftist actors amidst former President Iván Duque’s hostility toward the agreement resulted in a weakened implementation. Although Petro promised to revive the peace deal and extend it to other armed groups, yet his efforts have so far produced limited results. His plans have been hindered by expanding organised crime and the illicit drug trade, as well as broader socio-economic stability, exacerbated by the pandemic and global price shocks, continue to challenge Petro’s administration’s capacity in decision-making.

The repeated legislative rejections signalled a significant challenge to Petro’s administration’s ability to implement structural change, as well as underscored the limitations of Petro’s political coalition, raising questions about his capacity to push through his broader agenda. 

However, in early June of 2025, Colombia’s Senate approved the labour reform with 57 votes in favour and 31 against, out of the 88 senators present. This approval comes amidst rising tensions between the Senate and Petro over the reforms, polarising the Colombian political landscape and testing the democracy’s fragility.

What is changing Petro’s heat level?

Answer: Despite a series of legislative roadblocks, business sector backlash, and a fragile coalition, the bill’s approval sustains Petro’s political momentum.

The approval of President Petro’s labour reform signals a turning point in Colombia’s political landscape after repeated rejections underscored the prevalent resistance to structural change in Colombia. Framed as a cornerstone for his progressive agenda, the reform is a key initiative to reduce inequality and poverty in the nation, aiming to improve worker conditions and expand protections. More than a policy win, the bill also represents a broader ideological shift to challenge the historically dominant centrist and right-wing narrative in Colombia.

The repeated rejections of the bill in Congress revealed not only the fragility of Petro’s administration in its ability to implement structural change and deliver his reformist agenda, but also the deep institutional and political resistance to transformative change in Colombia. These setbacks underscored the challenges faced by a leftist government operating in a traditionally conservative political environment.

In response, Petro’s escalated strategy in pushing for a referendum by presidential decree sought to appeal directly to public opinions, signalling the administration’s determination to bypass the institutional block. Yet, this strategy was met with further rejection, and accusations of the move as a coup d’état and a sign of authoritarianism. The intensity of this backlash reflects a deeper tension between formal democratic procedures and the limits imposed on the ambitious reform, and the executive’s drive to expand the scope of action beyond institutional constraints.

Business associations have also voiced strong opposition, argued the reform’s pro-union language, and warned the reform will cause increased labour costs which in turn could lead to higher levels of unemployment and reduced productivity. It has been further argued that microentrepreneurs, who generate 60% of employment in Colombia, and small and medium-sized enterprises, which generate almost 90% of employment, may be disproportionately burdened by the proposed bill.

Yet, the reform’s hard-won approval reveals Petro’s competence in navigating the fragmented nature of Colombia’s political system. Despite relentless institutional and economic resistance by opposition parties and business lobbies, Petro secured passage of a core piece of his agenda, underscoring strategic persistence to advance his governance goals. 

What is driving Petro?

Answer: Petro is navigating a changing political landscape defined by institutional resistance, congressional opposition, and mounting social demand

Although Petro remained adamant in pursuing the reforms, political analysts and media commentators regarded the rejections to be the largest setback in his presidency. After the second rejection, Petro called for nationwide protests, sparking a wave of demonstrations across the country. As Colombia’s first Leftist leader, Petro has pursued a policy-driven strategy aimed at institutionalising long-term reforms and reshaping the country’s political trajectory, consolidating his influence within national politics through sustained public support. He has begun signalling for potential candidates and successors for the 2026 election, such as Gustavo Bolivar, to ensure his political legacy remains central to the future of the Colombian political landscape.

On the 18th of March 2025, 40,000 protesters, many of whom were government employees and union members, took to the streets of Bogotá in support of labour reforms backed by Petro. Trade unions rallied in support for the proposed reforms, emphasising their importance towards restoring the rights of workers across Colombia. Union leaders argued that the reform marked an essential step toward social justice, specifically by reversing labour policies suggested by former president Álvaro Uribe in 2002. 

In doing so, Petro positioned distanced from the former Presidents. This framing has strengthened his legitimacy among historically marginalised groups. Furthermore, the televised call for mass protests signalled increased pressure on the Colombian Congress, a strategic show of strength while reinforcing his agenda. His determination to push, despite the setbacks, highlights his broader goals in reshaping the economic structure of Colombia in favor of historically marginalised groups; such as women or indigenous organisations, who were one of the key organisers of the 2021 national strike against reforms proposed by the former President Duque. This political strategy is also rooted in the unfinished peace deal with the FARC. For Petro, building a strong and reformist government is not only about delivering social change, but also about creating the political conditions necessary for lasting peace negotiations with the remaining armed groups.

What does this mean for you?

Answer: Petro’s success and resilience, despite earlier rejection, marks a broader shift toward left-leaning politics in Colombia and Latin America, with regional and international implications for future leadership and foreign relations.

Petro’s determination to push for the reforms, despite rejection, reflects a localised shift toward left-wing politics in Colombia, which aligns with a broader yet uneven resurgence of left-leaning leadership across parts of Latin America. His administration reflects a new left orientation in Colombian politics, marked by a pro-Palestine, climate-based and feminist approach in the country, an agenda increasingly echoed by emerging leaders in the region.

This ideological shift has implications beyond domestic affairs, particularly in the lead up to the Colombian elections in 2026, where Petro’s likely successor, Gustavo Bolívar, has already announced his prioritisation of social development and political reforms. Although Bolívar has not yet spoken about the rejection of the reform, he expressed his support and defended the bill in May of 2023 during its first proposal.

Moreover, the success or failure of peace talks with armed groups, including the FARC, remains critical for regional security and economic dynamics. A lasting peace agreement could strengthen democratic institutions and reduce violence, fostering cooperation with neighbouring countries, while continued instability could risk perpetuating instability and undermine development across the region.