Colombia Formalizes 40,000 Community Mothers' Jobs in Landmark Decree

Colombia's Government Acts to Formalize Community Mothers' Employment: A Step Towards Social Justice Bogota, Colombia – In a significant move towards social justice, the Colombian government has formalized the employment of approximately 40,000 community mothers through a new decree. This decree, number 0586, issued on May 28th, 2025, officially recognizes the work of these women as employees of the Family Welfare Institute (ICBF). The decision comes as part of the ongoing labor reform currently being debated in Congress. The decree is a direct response to concerns raised by community mothers about their precarious employment status. Many of these women have worked for years without formal contracts or benefits. "We are not formalized as ICBF employees; we are in a third-party arrangement, and that is not good for us," said Sandra Jiménez, a community mother interviewed for the report. "In a moment of contract renewal, we could be left out." Astrid Cáceres, director of the ICBF, emphasized the government's commitment to improving the working conditions of community mothers. "With the regulations we have, we can provisionally link a group of community mothers," Cáceres stated. "But definitively, we need to ensure that, both in the consultation and the next labor reform, their permanent employment is guaranteed." The decree not only formalizes their employment but also allocates resources to create more than 40,000 positions in national entities. This action demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing social inequalities and improving the lives of vulnerable populations. This is a positive step that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the lives of many Colombian families.