On July 31st, Law 2397 of 2024 was enacted, to establish measures aimed at reducing gender inequality in the civil infrastructure and construction in Colombia.
Law 2397 establishes the “More Women Building” strategy (“Más Mujeres Construyendo” in Spanish) to promote the participation of the female workforce in both the public and private sectors, at municipal, district, departmental, and national levels. It also assigns the Ministries of Transportation and Housing, City, and Territory the responsibility for developing policies to reduce and eliminate gender gaps in the sector.
Program for Women's Participation in Civil Infrastructure and Construction
As part of the strategy, it is expected that the national government, through the Ministries of Transportation, Housing, City, and Territory, and the National Procurement Agency Colombia Compra Eficiente, will gradually formulate and implement a program to facilitate the participation of women in the development, construction, maintenance, installation, and execution of any civil infrastructure projects, both in managerial positions and in unskilled labor roles.
Coordination with the Private Sector
Regarding the private sector, the Law mandates coordination between the national government, the private sector, and industry associations to promote the employability and hiring of women in civil infrastructure projects. This includes:
• The formulation and promotion of policies that encourage the availability of female labor and equitable advancement in employment within the sector.
• The development of an employability policy that creates the necessary conditions for the engagement of women in construction activities and civil infrastructure projects.
• Actions to implement protocols for the prevention and response to gender-based violence, coordinated with existing mechanisms for managing such cases by competent authorities.
• The development of a business awareness program aimed at eliminating barriers and cultural stereotypes related to female participation in the sector.
• Collaboration with the "Sello Equipares" Labor Equity Certification Program of the Ministry of Labor, aimed at reducing gender inequalities.
• The establishment of tax incentives for sector employers who increase female hiring.
As observed, this legislation requires subsequent development and regulation. However, although the Law does not specify concrete measures derived from the “More Women Building” strategy, it stipulates that, from its entry into force, in all civil infrastructure and construction projects where the national government or its central and decentralized entities contract with third parties, efforts will be made to ensure the participation of women, as established by Colombia Compra Eficiente.
