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Find out how Remote can guide you through the complexities of managing cross-border hiring, payroll, taxes, and compliance.

Employing in Colombia

Colombia has many skilled workers, most of whom primarily speak Spanish, the country’s official language. Before you recruit Colombian or expat employees, you should understand the specifics of Colombian employment and labour laws.

Employment contracts are required for both fixed-term employment and permanent employment agreements. Remote recommends employment contracts for every hire, and every contract must adhere to Colombian employment and labour laws. Usually, fixed-term contracts in Colombia cannot be for more than three years, though there is a provision to extend them to a later date. The contracts are usually drafted in Spanish.

To employ workers in Colombia, contact Remote to learn more about your options.

Minimum Wage

Colombia labour laws for two types of salaries.

The type of pay must be agreed to by both the employee and employer. This pay type must be outlined in the relevant Employment Agreement.

The CST (Código Sustantivo del Trabajo) specifies that an  integral pay  cannot be less than 10 monthly minimum wage payments, plus 30% of the benefit factor.

President Gustavo Petro announced a 9.54% increase, raising the monthly minimum wage from 1.3 million pesos in 2024 to 1,423,500 pesos for 2025 .

That means in 2025, the benchmark for a gross integral pay in Colombia must be at least 18,505,500 Colombian pesos (COP) as the minimum monthly wage is 1,423,500 COP.

13th Month Pay

Employees in Colombia who are earning an Ordinary Pay are entitled to receive an extra month’s pay each year, calculated by dividing the gross annual pay by 12.

The payment is equally split and delivered 50% in June and 50% in December. These payments are not only customary but are required by law.

If an employee earns less than $ 18,505,500 COP per month, an Ordinary Pay would apply. Note that the 13th pay should not be included in the total annual gross pay.

If an employee earns a gross pay of $15,080,000 COP per month or more, an 'integral pay' is usually applied. Employees who receive an integral pay, do not receive a 13th pay payment.

Payroll Cycle

For customers of Remote, all employee payments will be made in equal monthly instalments on or before the last working day of each calendar month, payable in arrears.

Onboarding Time

We can help you get a new employee started in Colombia fast. The minimum onboarding time we need is only 5 working days.

Our team ensures your employees are onboarded and paid as quickly as possible while keeping your business compliant with all local employment legislation. The minimum onboarding time begins after the employee submits all required information onto the Remote platform. The onboarding timeline is also dependent upon registration with local authorities.

For all non-nationals of the country of employment, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) will add three extra days to the total time to onboard. There may be extra time required if we need to follow-up on the right to work assessment.

Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual first day of employment. Remote has a payroll cut-off date of the 10th of the month unless otherwise specified.

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17 Public holidays

Competitive benefits package in Colombia

health_insurance
Health Insurance
dental_insurance
Dental Insurance
vision_insurance
Vision Insurance
mental_health_support
Mental health support
pension_or_401(k)
Pension or 401(K)
life_and_disability_insurance
Life and Disability Insurance

Facts & Stats

The second-most populous country in South America, Colombia is the only country on the continent with beaches on both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Colombia is well known for its coffee and its vibrant arts scene. With many public holidays (the second-most in the world, behind only India), plentiful natural resources, and a large population, Colombia is home to expert workers in a variety of important fields.

Capital City
Bogota
Currency
Colombian peso
Languages
Spanish
Population size
51,049,498
Ease of doing business
Easy
Payroll frequency
Biweekly/Monthly
VAT - standard rate
19%

Grow your team in Colombia with Remote

Want to employ workers in Colombia? Companies hiring in Colombia are typically required to either own a local legal entity or work with a global employment platform like Remote that can legally provide employment services in the country.

Remote can employ team members in Colombia and keep you compliant. Remote can hire, onboard, and pay your Colombia team so you don't have to set up local HR services in the region. Remote also makes it easy to pay contractors in Colombia. Sign up now to get started or talk to an expert for more details.

Risks of misclassification

Colombia, like many other countries, treats self-employed individuals or contractors and full-time employees differently. Misclassification of contractors in Colombia may lead to fines and penalties for the offending company.

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Transparent Pricing in Colombia

Payroll

39

per employee/month
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  • Powerful, transparent international payroll
  • Simple self-service platform
  • Personalised support from dedicated specialists
  • Adhere to local payroll regulations in every country
  • Integrated payroll, expense management, and HRIS solution
Contractor Management

39

per contractor/month
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  • Only pay for contractors you actively work with
  • Work with international contractors
  • Create, edit, and sign tailored, localised contracts
  • Approve contractor invoices with one click or auto-pay
  • Transparent payments with complete visibility
Employer of Record

945 809

per employee/month
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  • Hire without opening a local entity
  • Guided onboarding
  • Local payroll paid on time, every time
  • Built-in security and compliance
  • Flexible, localised benefits
  • Offer equity incentives with tax assistance
  • Dedicated experts for local support