Colombia Employment Guide

Maternity Leave in Colombia: A Guide for Employers

In Colombia, eligible employees are entitled to 126 days of fully paid maternity leave. A minimum of 7 days must be taken prior to the expected date of childbirth. The employee receives 100% of their average salary during this period, which is paid by the employer and subsequently reimbursed through the social security system. This leave period is fixed and cannot be extended.

Paternity Leave Provisions

Fathers are granted 14 days of paid paternity leave, which must be utilized following the birth of the child. Similar to maternity benefits, the salary is paid in full by the employer and is reimbursed via social security. Extensions to this leave are not permitted under current regulations.

Understanding Parental Leave

Colombian labor law does not specifically provide for additional parental leave beyond the defined maternity and paternity periods. For instance, at SailGlobal, we advise international clients that employees typically rely on these initial leaves for newborn care, as no further state-mandated paid leave exists for general parenting needs after the initial periods.

Navigating Sick Leave Entitlements

It is important to note that if the sick leave is a result of a work-related accident, the employee is entitled to 100% of their base salary for the entire duration of the leave, with payments managed by the relevant insurance provider.