OECD Reviews of Labour Market and Social Policies: Colombia 2016
Colombia has made major economic and social advances in recent years. The combination
of strong economic growth and policies targeted at the most vulnerable groups improved
considerably the living standards of the Colombian population. Today, the country
enjoys higher employment and labour force participation rates than the average of
OECD countries and unemployment is steadily declining. Nevertheless, despite these
positive trends, deep structural problems remain. Labour informality is widespread,
the rate of self-employment is high and many employees have non-regular contracts.
Income inequality is higher than in any OECD country and redistribution through taxes
and benefits is almost negligible. In addition, half a century of internal conflict
and violence has displaced a significant part of the population, and many of them
are living in extreme poverty. Despite considerable progress, violence continues to
be a challenge and also affects trade union members and leaders. The Colombian Government
has undertaken important reforms in recent years to address these labour market and
social challenges, and the efforts are gradually paying off. However, further progress
is needed to enhance the quality of jobs and well-being for all. The main trust of
this report is to support the Colombian Government in tackling labour market duality,
generate trust between the social partners, develop inclusive and active social policies,
and get the most out of international migration.
Published on January 20, 2016
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