Colombia government sends labor reform to Congress, aims to cut hours

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro is pictured on the day of a presentation of the labor reform that his government wants to carry out, in Bogota, Colombia March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government presented a labor reform bill to Congress on Thursday that would reduce working hours and boost overtime pay, but critics say the measures could hurt job creation.

The bill is part of a raft of reforms being pushed by President Gustavo Petro, the country's first leftist leader, as he looks to fight poverty.