How to Post Vacancies for Waiters, Cooks, and Hospitality Staff for Free in Colombia

Quick answer: post your waiter or cook vacancy with zero commission, a 42-hour workweek, food handling certification required, and direct contact via WhatsApp. There is no listing fee.

Running a restaurant, café, or bar in Colombia carries a permanent challenge that keeps any manager up at night: operational staff turnover. Finding a punctual waiter with a service-oriented mindset or a line cook who can manage order timing often becomes an odyssey of posting in spam-filled social media groups or paying excessive fees on corporate job platforms that charge monthly subscriptions unattainable for an independent business.

Added to this is the complexity of organizing shifts under the current 2026 labor framework. After the final implementation of the reduction of the regular workweek, structuring kitchen and dining room schedules without incurring legal risks requires clarity from the first announcement. If you are looking to complete your operational team with qualified staff in your area, this guide shows you how to write attractive offers, respect labor regulations, and post your vacancies 100% for free.

The new legal framework for shifts in 2026: 42 hours and surcharges

Hiring staff for the gastronomic sector in Colombia requires adapting shift rosters to current labor legislation. As of July 15, 2026, the maximum regular workweek in Colombia was set at 42 hours per week by virtue of Law 2101 of 2021, without this meaning a reduction in the basic salary agreed upon with the worker.

For a restaurant kitchen or dining room with extended hours, there are non-negotiable legal limits you must consider before inviting applicants:

• Prohibition of double shifts on the same day: By express legal provision, you cannot schedule the same operational worker to perform two separate shifts during the same 24-hour period, even if the collaborator gives their consent.
• Overtime cap: Supplementary work is strictly limited to a maximum of 2 hours of overtime per day and 12 hours of overtime per week per employee.
• Night surcharge: The night work period formally applies starting from 7:00 p.m. and extends until 6:00 a.m. the following day, with a legal surcharge of 35% on the regular hourly rate.
• Sunday and holiday surcharges: For the second semester of 2026, the surcharge for working on Sundays or regular holidays corresponds to 90% of the regular hour, within the legal scale toward 100%.
• Mandatory day of rest: Every worker has the right to one paid Sunday rest day per week. In the case of habitually working on Sunday, the corresponding paid compensatory day must be granted in the following week.

If you need to understand the settlement of benefits when ending a reinforcement or seasonal contract, we recommend consulting our detailed guide on how to calculate labor settlement in Colombia step by step.

Sanitary and documentation requirements for filtering candidates

To avoid wasting time interviewing profiles who cannot start immediately, demand the required documents in the vacancy text. In the food and beverage sector, sanitary standards are strictly enforced to avoid sanctions from local health departments:

• Food Handling Certificate and BPM: In accordance with Resolution 2674 of 2013 from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, every food handler must have an annual medical fitness certificate and proof of training in Good Manufacturing Practices (BPM) for a minimum of 10 hours per year.
• Pre-employment medical exams: Remember that, according to the Substantive Labor Code, entrance and exit medical exams are a responsibility and cost assumed entirely by the employer. Requiring a candidate to pay for their own medical exams is illegal.
• Shift availability and proximity: Specify the exact neighborhood of your establishment. In cities with heavy traffic, hiring staff who live in the same locality or have direct night transport routes drastically reduces tardiness and turnover in closing shifts.

Vacancy templates ready to post

A well-written vacancy keeps your WhatsApp from filling up with messages asking for basic information that should have been clear from the start. Copy, adapt, and post these templates designed for the sector:

Template 1: Dining Room Waiter / Customer Service

Vacante: Mesero(a) con experiencia en servicio a la mesa  Restaurante: [Nombre de tu negocio]  Ubicación: [Zona / Localidad]    Requisitos:  - Experiencia mínima de 1 año en restaurantes o cafés.  - Manejo de comandas y datáfono.  - Carné vigente de manipulación de alimentos (Res. 2674/2013).  - Excelente presentación personal, orientación al cliente y puntualidad.    Condiciones de la oferta:  - Jornada: 42 horas semanales en turnos rotativos diurnos y nocturnos (con día compensatorio entre semana).  - Salario: Salario mínimo legal mensual vigente (SMMLV) proporcional + Auxilio de transporte legal + Recargos nocturnos y dominicales de ley + Propinas proporcionales del turno.  - Prestaciones sociales completas (EPS, Pensión, ARL, Caja de Compensación).  - Beneficio: Alimentación incluida durante el turno.    Postulación directa vía WhatsApp al [Tu número de contacto] adjuntando hoja de vida.  

Template 2: Line Cook / Kitchen Assistant

Vacante: Cocinero(a) de Línea - Área Caliente y Fría  Restaurante: [Nombre de tu negocio]  Ubicación: [Zona / Localidad]    Requisitos:  - Experiencia mínima de 1 a 2 años en cocinas de alto volumen (mise en place, porcionado y despacho ágil).  - Conocimiento en Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM).  - Carné de manipulación de alimentos al día.  - Capacidad para trabajar bajo presión en horas pico y mantener el orden del área.    Condiciones de la oferta:  - Jornada: 42 horas semanales según programación operativa.  - Salario: Salario base acorde a experiencia + Auxilio de transporte + Todos los recargos nocturnos y festivos aplicables.  - Afiliación a EPS, pensión y ARL desde el primer día de labores.  - Dotación de trabajo y alimentación en turno.    Envía tu hoja de vida indicando tu zona de residencia al WhatsApp [Tu número de contacto].  

How to post hospitality vacancies for free on Colombia Move

The classifieds and services portal of Colombia Move has a dedicated employment section aimed at connecting local businesses with nearby talent directly. Unlike portals that act as intermediaries or hold resumes behind paywalls, here the contact is established immediately.

According to active ads on Colombia Move (September 2026), the hospitality employment category has 0 active ads. Posting is free and commission-free: the contact goes directly to the employer's WhatsApp, without a listing fee.

To post your job offer at no cost, follow these steps:

1. Enter the form at Post Job Offer and choose the category of hospitality.
2. Select the section Jobs and the category corresponding to Hospitality u Operational.
3. Indicate with precision the area where your establishment operates so that nearby candidates can find you easily.
4. Paste the text of the vacancy detailing the role, the 42-hour workweek, sanitary requirements, and benefits.
5. Register your contact WhatsApp number to receive resumes directly to your phone without intermediaries or delays.

If you want to optimize your business presentation for future openings, check out our tips on how to post free job offers in Colombia to recruit local talent.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is the maximum a waiter or cook can work per week in Colombia?

The maximum legal ordinary workday is 42 hours per week starting July 15, 2026, according to Law 2101 of 2021. It can be distributed over 5 or 6 days with at least one full day of paid rest, allowing for a maximum of 2 additional daily overtime hours that must be properly settled.

❓ Is it legal to pay a waiter only with customer tips?

No, it is a completely illegal practice in Colombia. Tips are a voluntary gratuity from the consumer protected by Law 1935 of 2018 and cannot replace the agreed basic salary or legal social benefits.

❓ From what time is the night surcharge calculated in restaurants and bars in 2026?

The 35% night surcharge on the ordinary hour formally applies starting at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 a.m. the following day, and must be calculated with that percentage for all kitchen or service staff working during that time frame.

❓ Where do I post a job offer for a restaurant on Colombia Move?

Posting job ads on Colombia Move is 100% free, as of September 2026. There are no costs per ad, charges for hiring commissions, or mandatory subscriptions for gastronomic owners or managers.

❓ Who must pay for the food handling course and entrance medical exams?

Occupational medical entrance exams are by law an exclusive financial obligation of the employer. The applicant may provide their previous food handling certification, or the company may train them internally in accordance with its annual BPM plan under Resolution 2674 of 2013.

❓ Can I schedule a cook to work two separate shifts on the same day?

No. Law 2101 prohibits two separate shifts on the same day, even with the worker's consent. That rule remains in effect in 2026 for kitchen and service operational staff.

❓ Is it a scam to charge for the exam?

No. The entrance medical exam and the uniform allowance are covered by the employer, not the candidate. The Substantive Labor Code places those costs on the company, articles 57 and 230, as of September 2026. Asking the applicant for money for the exam or the uniform is an improper practice.