This May 1, the Colombian president Gustavo Petro tests his popularity asking the country’s workers to go to the street in defense of the work reform he produces and was rejected by the congress. To overcome the resistance of the opposition and the entrepreneurial community, Petro sends a popular consultation proposal to the Senate, about 12 points, so that the workers speak of the improvements that the government is willing to implement.
In this May 1, the Colombian president Gustavo Petro tests his popularity by calling the country’s workers to go to the street in defense of the work reform he is procured and was rejected by Congress. To overcome the resistance of the opposition and the entrepreneurial community, Petro sends a popular consultation proposal to the Senate, about 12 points, so that the workers speak of the improvements that the government is willing to implement.
By Elianah Jorge, correspondent RFI in Caracas
Gustavo Petro has chosen the Labor Day, celebrated in different countries, to mobilize its supporters on the streets of Colombia in defense of its popular consultation proposal on the work reform.
More than 300,000 Colombians should participate, including teachers, pensioners and representatives of indigenous populations. Compared to other countries, Colombia is late regarding work rights.
What provides a popular consultation
The popular consultation proposed by the government has twelve questions relating to the expansion of well -being and guarantees to the workers foreseen in the reform.
Among the proposals there are the limitation of working hours to a maximum of eight hours a day and double payment for those who work on Sundays or holidays.
The reform also includes a license for medical treatments and disable menstrual periods, as well as guaranteeing some type of employment contract and social security contribution for the delivery of applications.
Among the requirements are taking at least two people with special needs for every 100 employees of the same company and the extension of access to social security to domestic workers, educational agents who work with early childhood in needy communities, among other professional categories.
The reform also tries to limit the possibility that companies use short -term employment contracts so that the general rule is indefinite contracts. The text also provides for an increase in allowances in case of dismissal of workers without cause.
Tug of war
The work reform project is controversial because it favors employees more than entrepreneurs, generating reactions from the most conservative sectors. A month ago, the Colombian congress rejected the work reform. There is no consent to the legislator on his approval, which was considered a political defeat of the president. Given the impasse, Petro has decided to bring the proposal to the popular consultation to circumvent the decision of the parliamentarians.
At the Colombian congress, there are joints to unite different parts compared to the approval of the voting proposal. At the same time, there is an initiative of the liberal party, supported by the conservative party, which provides for a reform of the less radical work than Petro’s proposal.
The opponents argue that the reform does not generate jobs, damage companies and do not present accurate information on their costs.
Petro accused the parliamentarians of “betrayal” and to break the dialogue with the government. In response, the president convened the population on the streets this May 1st.
Falling Popularity
According to a survey issued by the CB Public Opinion consultant, in April of this year, 41% of Colombians ranked a very negative petro management.
The fall in the popularity of the Colombian is a reflection of the president’s internal and external decisions. One of these is the failure of peace agreements with the army for national liberation, Eln. In January of this year, the clash between this guerrilla and dissidents of the Colombian revolutionary armed forces, the Farc, left a balance of dozens of deaths and increased violence and instability in the country.
Another element that damaged the image of Petro was its hesitant position on Nicolás Maduro after the controversial July elections in Venezuela. At the time, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico took some time to harden the tone in relation to events in the nearby country. The political cost of this initially moderate position is accused now and Petro tries to reverse the game in his favor with the work reform card.
Source: Terra
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