Efforts to reduce gender pay inequality have been rising all around the globe, without Colombia being an exception. The challenge of gender inclusiveness has to do with generational aspects that have brought cultural changes, including the evolution of women’s role in society.
Colombian government has implemented initiatives to improve working conditions. Such initiatives have generated conscience against discrimination associated with gender and increased the opportunities to find a position or to be promoted to higher ones.
In 2013, the government implemented a special program named National Program of Labor Equity with a Gender Differential Focus (Programa Nacional de Equidad Laboral con Enfoque Diferencial de Género). This program is aimed at preventing discrimination due to gender in the workplace and reducing female unemployment, informality and segregation. It includes: campaigns explaining laws and regulations to protect women; tax deductions for employers that hire women that are victims of violence; inclusion of gender equity policies within the companies; policies to ensure equal payment, among others.
On the other hand, Law 1496, 2011 has stated that employees that have the same working shift and efficiency must receive equal salaries. This Law includes the possibility to impose sanctions to those employers that discriminate women in recruitment processes.
Colombia has also a Law that regulates labor harassment conducts and which includes discrimination as harassment conduct.
It is worth mentioning that Colombia does not have mandatory provisions to compensate female employees. One wonders which practices could be implemented to leverage best compensation practices across the region.
