Did the Labor Reform Undermine Apprenticeship Contracts? More Than 8,000 Companies Prefer to Pay Rather Than Hire Apprentices

Labor and Employment attorney Camilo Cuervo was interviewed by Revista Semana about the impact Colombia's labor reform has had on apprenticeship contracts throughout its first year being in effect. Mr. Cuervo explained that turning this arrangement into an employment relationship has led thousands of companies to prefer paying the monetization fee to the National Apprenticeship Service (SENA) rather than hiring apprentices as a result of increased costs and legal risks. He warned that this situation affects not only companies, but also students, by weakening one of the country's main mechanisms for practical training and transition into formal employment.

"One of the labor reform's biggest mistakes may have been turning the apprenticeship contract into an employment relationship. Not only because it makes it excessively costly compared with the alternative of paying the monetization fee, but also because it significantly increases the risks for companies," he said.

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