Colombia’s Gig Workers Wait in Limbo
The approval of Law 2466 in June 2025 wasn't the final step in the sector's reforms. The president of the national platform workers' union announced that they had submitted a list of demands, opening a new waiting period.
20 May 2026
Colombia’s Law 2466 on platform work, approved in June 2025, is still awaiting regulation, prolonging uncertainty and deepening tensions between labor unions and digital platform companies. While the government has convened technical discussions, key disagreements remain unresolved, particularly over the legal status of gig workers.
Stalled regulation
In recent months, a technical working group has brought together representatives from the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Health, platform companies and trade unions. Although there is agreement on several aspects of the law, a major sticking point is how to define employment, dependency and subordination.
According to Jhonniell Colina, president of the Platform Workers’ Union (UNIDAPP), companies argue that clarifying this distinction is unnecessary—an approach strongly opposed by unions.
“We need to define the boundary,” Colina told WageIndicator. “Some argue that the employment relationship could be determined by whether a worker is connected to the app: when they are online, they are effectively working; when they log off, they are not.”
Partial progress: agreement with Rappi
Amid the broader regulatory deadlock, a notable development came in February 2026, when the Platform Workers’ Union reached an agreement with Rappi, the leading delivery company in Colombia.
The deal followed a court order instructing Rappi to refrain from violating workers’ rights to due process, after a delivery worker’s account was blocked without proper justification.
The agreement includes:
- a minimum payment of 3,050 pesos per completed delivery
- a guaranteed rate of 640 pesos per kilometer (after the fourth kilometer)
- and, most importantly, steps toward safety coverage for approximately 120,000 delivery workers.
In return, the union committed to working with the company to combat fraud and improve platform operations.
Health Protection, the Most Critical Issue
One of the most critical aspects of Law 2466 is social security and occupational risk coverage. Article 27 establishes that:
- platforms must contribute 60% to health and pension systems
- workers cover the remaining 40%
- and companies must fully assume occupational risk insurance
However, these provisions have yet to be implemented.
In practice, access to coverage remains extremely limited. “Out of 100 workers, maybe one actually has access to insurance. and usually only in the event of death,” Colina said.
Workers also lack basic protections such as:
- paid sick leave
- maternity or paternity leave
- comprehensive health coverage
As a result, any interruption due to illness directly translates into lost income.
Longer hours, lower earnings
Like in much of Latin America, the rapid expansion of platform work has reshaped labor conditions. A growing number of workers—many pushed out of formal employment or seeking additional income—has led to increased competition and lower earnings per task.
“According to our data, 90% of workers are connected for around 14 hours a day. In Colombia, people work seven days a week,” Colina explained.
In 2026, the minimum wage was set at 2,000,000 pesos, while an average delivery worker may earn around 3,000,000 pesos per month. After expenses—such as vehicle maintenance, fuel, mobile data and equipment—net income drops to roughly 1,700,000 pesos.
Despite the long hours, workers do not receive:
- bonuses
- paid vacations
- job security
An uncertain outlook shaped by politics
The future of platform work regulation in Colombia remains uncertain. The implementation of Law 2466 will be crucial in determining the scope of labor rights in the sector.
With presidential elections scheduled for late May, the political outcome could play a decisive role in shaping how the law is enforced—and whether it ultimately improves conditions for gig workers.
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