Fenalco questions government decree on collective bargaining and warns of impact on SMEs and workers

Portafolio Journalist 03.09.2026 19:09 Updated: 03.09.2026 19:09

Fenalco questions government decree on collective bargaining and warns of impact on SMEs and workers

TL;DR

  • Fenalco is worried about a new Ministry of Labor decree (0234) changing labor negotiation models.
  • The decree could allow sectoral unions to negotiate terms for entire economic sectors, affecting non-participating companies.
  • This may create significant new wage obligations for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • The decree is criticized for potentially requiring contributions from workers not affiliated with the negotiating union, violating the freedom of association.
  • Fenalco believes such significant changes to collective bargaining should be debated in Congress, not implemented through administrative regulation.