Level of Legal Labor Protection for Workers in the Rural Sector (Farmers) in Colombia: A Case Study in the Department of Tolima

Abstract

This study analyzes the legal labor protections afforded to rural workers in Colombia, within a context characterized by informal employment and difficulties in accessing social security. The objective was to analyze the level of legal labor protection for rural workers in Colombia by comparing the current regulatory framework with the working conditions identified among workers in the department of Tolima. The study was conducted from a socio-legal perspective, with a descriptive scope. It combined a documentary component—which involved a review of regulatory, case law, and doctrinal sources—with an empirical component based on surveys administered to 52 workers in the rural sector of Tolima. The results revealed a gap between the protections recognized by the legal system and the working conditions reported by the participating population, particularly regarding informality, social security enrollment, and job stability. It is concluded that, although the legal framework recognizes labor protection mechanisms for rural workers, difficulties persist in their implementation within the context studied; these findings highlight the need to strengthen measures for labor formalization and mechanisms for effective access to social security, taking into account the specific conditions of the rural sector.