Colombia’s legal working week fell to 42 hours on 15 July, completing a phased reduction from 48 hours that began in 2021. The change, enacted under Law 2101, does not alter wages or benefits, and employers are now exempt from providing a biannual paid family day, on the grounds that the shorter week already improves work-life balance. The reform places Colombia closer to the 36-hour average common in developed economies, though it remains above the OECD norm.

The policy shift reflects a growing body of evidence that long hours do not translate into higher output. Colombian workers log more than 2,100 hours annually, among the highest in the OECD, yet total factor productivity languishes below 1 per cent, according to the national statistics agency DANE. A Gallup study cited by analysts in Bogotá found that motivated employees are 17 per cent more productive and generate 21 per cent higher profitability. Business groups argue that without measurable productivity gains, further reductions—some legislators have proposed 36 hours—risk raising unit labour costs without commensurate economic returns.

Health data lend urgency to the debate. The World Health Organization and International Labour Organization estimate that working 55 or more hours per week contributed to roughly 745,000 deaths from stroke and ischaemic heart disease in 2016. A 2025 scientific statement from the American Heart Association links sleep durations below seven hours to elevated hypertension and cardiovascular risk. Neurologists note that chronic sleep deprivation, often a by-product of overwork, doubles the risk of dementia. Short daytime naps of 10 to 30 minutes, ideally taken between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., can partially restore alertness and memory consolidation, but they do not substitute for adequate nightly rest.

Psychological research underscores what the legislation implicitly recognises: time away from work is a primary source of well-being. Studies indicate that 85 per cent of happiness derives from personal relationships, not career achievements. Practices such as daily gratitude, self-compassion, and maintaining consistent sleep schedules—even on weekends—are associated with lower anxiety and greater life satisfaction. In the workplace, clear career paths, recognition, and flexible arrangements rank as top motivators, according to human-resources consultancies in the region.

The next milestone arrives in 2027, when the surcharge for Sunday and holiday work in Colombia rises to 100 per cent, a provision of the broader labour reform approved in 2025. Meanwhile, the government faces pressure to redesign the labour code to accommodate hourly contracts and the gig economy, a step that employers say is essential to formalise work and boost the very productivity that would make shorter weeks sustainable.