The unions at the Ministry of Labor have filed a complaint against Minister Gloria Inés Ramírez with the International Labor Organization, accusing her of committing alleged acts that undermine trade union freedom in Colombia. The strike committee stated in a letter to the ILO that they have identified certain work activities as acts that violate trade union freedom, association rights, and the right to strike.
Minister Ramírez responded by stating that the complaint does not reflect reality. She said, “I have never proposed reprisals; I have always said that this Government, which identifies with workers, will provide all constitutional guarantees for workers to express themselves. We will never have labor massacres.” The workers claim that they have tried on more than three occasions to reach agreements within the ministry but have not received a response from the administration despite being requested through a petition on June 5.
The strike at the Ministry of Labor in the city center has been ongoing since May 31 due to alleged non-compliance with agreements made in previous years. Last week, according to Rubi Fontalvo, a member of the strike committee, employees at various ministry branches have faced intimidation for participating in the strike. The day before, the Ministry of Labor informed all public servants and trade unions that a special compensation bonus had been approved following technical meetings with entities such as the Administrative Department of Public Function and the Ministry of Finance, based on the 2023-2025 union agreement.
The ministry reiterated that trade union actions are fully guaranteed and aim to facilitate dialogue to resolve labor conflicts in the country. The unions went on strike at the Ministry of Labor because they claim that several agreements outlined in the 2023 collective agreement were not fulfilled. Among other things, they were promised a 50% salary bonus, which was not paid in the end.
Minister Ramírez emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to advance the permanent social dialogue table. She stated, “This table is open to all trade union organizations who signed the agreement, and we will continue to take all necessary administrative steps to ensure its fulfillment. We still have almost a year to make progress on the agreements for the 2023-2025 period, which we are expediting.”