ARL in Colombia: why is it vital for your company?
Occupational Risk Administrators (ARL) are much more than a legal requirement in Colombia. They are the fundamental pillar of labor protection that guarantees the safety, health and well-being of your employees, while protecting the assets and continuity of your company.
Important
Not affiliating your employees to ARL can generate fines of up to 500 current minimum monthly salaries (more than $650 million in 2025) and unlimited civil liability in case of workplace accidents.
What is an ARL?
Occupational Risk Administrators are entities responsible for preventing, protecting and caring for workers from the effects of diseases and accidents that may occur on the occasion or as a consequence of the work they perform.
Main objectives of ARL:
- Prevention: Identify and control occupational risk factors
- Protection: Cover medical and economic expenses for accidents or occupational diseases
- Care: Provide specialized medical services and rehabilitation
- Promotion: Foster a culture of safety and health at work
Who should be affiliated?
Mandatory Affiliation
- • Employees with employment contract
- • Cooperative workers
- • Mission personnel
- • SENA apprentices
- • Students in practice
Voluntary Affiliation
- • Independent workers
- • Contractors
- • Self-employed workers
- • Members of associations
Occupational Risk Classification
All companies are classified according to their risk level, which determines the percentage of contribution they must pay:
Class I - Minimum Risk
Offices, banks, medical offices
Class II - Low Risk
Commerce, restaurants, schools
Class III - Medium Risk
Workshops, textiles, some transport
Class IV - High Risk
Heavy industries, chemicals
Class V - Maximum Risk
Mining, explosives, asbestos
Benefits for your company
Legal and Financial Protection
- Regulatory compliance
- Protection against lawsuits
- Avoid fines and sanctions
- Reduce accident costs
Operational Benefits
- Improves productivity
- Reduces absenteeism
- Strengthens corporate image
- Increases job satisfaction
Conclusion
ARL is not just a legal obligation, it is a smart investment in the future of your company and the well-being of your employees. Good occupational risk management can be the difference between sustainable success and legal and financial problems that put your business at risk.
Need advice to choose the ideal ARL for your company? At G&A Broker we accompany you throughout the process at no additional cost.
Need to Affiliate Your Company to an ARL?
We advise you for free to choose the ARL that best suits your company and sector.