Employer of Record in Colombia
Onboard, pay and manage employees in Colombia without opening a local entity. We assume the legal risks and keep you 100% compliant with local labor law — you keep full operational control.
What is an EOR in Colombia?
An Employer of Record is a third party that legally employs your workers in Colombia on your behalf. Europortage becomes the legal employer — handling contracts, mandatory benefits, tax withholdings and terminations — while you direct your team's day-to-day work.
- Locally compliant employment contracts, drafted and signed in Colombia
- Mandatory benefits and social contributions administered
- Payroll, taxes and filings handled by local experts
- Compliant terminations and severance managed end-to-end
When to use an EOR in Colombia
Hire without the cost and delay of opening a company in Colombia.
Onboard your candidates in days, not months.
Labor law in Colombia is complex — we carry the risk for you.
Build a local team before committing to a legal structure.
What an employee really costs in Colombia
Expect total employer costs of roughly 30% on top of base salary.
| Employer contribution | Rate |
|---|---|
| EPS — healthcare | 8.5% |
| AFP — pension fund | 12% |
| ARL — professional risks | 0.3% – 8.7% |
| CCF — employee benefit fund | 4% |
| ICBF — family health services | 3% |
| SENA — education program | 2% |
| Mandatory benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| 13th salary (Prima de Servicios) | 30 days (Jun / Dec) |
| Vacation | 15 working days |
| Cesantías (severance savings) | 1 month per year + interest |
| CBA benefits | Variable |
Salary, contributions and our fee consolidated. Ask us for an exact estimate for your role.
Everything you need to know before hiring
A practical guide to labor law in Colombia — maintained by our local experts.
Payroll, wages and taxes
2026 minimum wage: COP 1,750,905/month. The Prima de Servicios (13th salary) is paid 50% by June 30 and 50% by December 20. Employees contribute 4% health, 4% pension (plus 1–2% solidarity above 4 minimum wages) and progressive withholding with a 25% labor income exemption.
Handled by Europortage
Every calculation follows current law and official rates — monitored continuously by our local team, so your payroll is always right.
Working hours and overtime
Law 2101/2021 is phasing the work week down from 48 to 42 hours by July 2026, spread over 5 or 6 days with a guaranteed rest day. Night hours (9pm–6am) carry a premium rate.
Handled by Europortage
Working-time rules, overtime premiums and time-tracking obligations are applied automatically in every payroll cycle.
Mandatory and common benefits
Mandatory: Prima de Servicios, 15 working days of vacation, Cesantías deposited yearly with interest, and full social security. CBAs may add meal, transport or health benefits.
Handled by Europortage
We administer every mandatory benefit and help you build a competitive package for the local market.
Vacation, holidays and leave
18 national public holidays — one of the highest counts in the region. Paid vacation of 15 working days per year, plus maternity (18 weeks) and paternity (2 weeks) leave under the CST.
Handled by Europortage
Leave balances, public holidays and statutory licenses are tracked for you — nothing slips through.
Notice and severance
Terminations follow the CST: notice or pay in lieu, settlement of accrued Prima, vacation and Cesantías. Severance depends on contract type and salary level.
Handled by Europortage
Terminations are the riskiest moment in LATAM employment. Our legal team runs the entire process cleanly for both sides.
This guide is provided for context only. When hiring through Europortage's EOR service, all payroll, taxes, contributions, contracts and compliance are handled directly by our team.
EOR vs. entity setup vs. contractors
Employer of Record
Hire fast and stay 100% compliant, without opening a company.
- Setup in 48–72 hours
- Very low risk — compliance carried by Europortage
- Payroll, benefits and taxes included
- Best for hiring fast and testing the market
Entity setup
Your own company in Colombia, with full control and full responsibility.
- 3–6 months to set up
- Medium risk — compliance carried by you
- Needs local payroll and accounting team
- Best for large permanent operations
Independent contractor
Fast to start, but risky if the relationship looks like employment.
- 1–2 weeks to start
- Very high risk — misclassification penalties
- No employee benefits or protections
- Best for short, truly independent projects
Misclassification warning: treating employees as contractors (fixed schedule, direct supervision, exclusivity, company equipment) can result in severe penalties, back payments and legal disputes in Colombia.
Your direct partner in Colombia, not a reseller
We hire under our own Colombian entity. You always know exactly who employs your team.
Local expertise
Deep knowledge of Colombian employment law and business culture, backed by 15+ years in Latin America.
Fast deployment
Hire employees in as little as 48 hours, with bilingual support (ES/EN) during business hours.
100% compliance guarantee
Full compliance with Colombian labor law and continuous legal monitoring, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
Hiring in Colombia, answered
What are my options to hire workers in Colombia?
Three routes: hiring contractors (fast but with reclassification risk), opening a local entity (months of setup and ongoing costs), or using an EOR like Europortage — the fastest compliant option.
How much does it cost to employ someone in Colombia?
Plan for roughly 30% in employer contributions on top of gross salary, plus Prima, Cesantías and vacation accruals.
What does "Employer of Record" mean in Colombia?
Europortage (or our vetted local partner) becomes the legal employer of your talent in Colombia: contracts, payroll, contributions and filings run under our responsibility, while you manage the day-to-day work.
Do employees get all their rights under an EOR?
Yes — employees hired through Europortage receive the complete set of statutory rights in Colombia: registered contract, mandatory bonuses, paid vacation, social security coverage and severance protections.