How to Post Waiter, Cook, and Hospitality Job Openings for Free in Colombia

Quick answer: publish the waiter or line cook vacancy with no commission, a 42-hour workweek, a food handler certificate, and direct contact via WhatsApp. There is no listing fee.

Managing a restaurant, café, or bar in Colombia comes with a constant challenge that keeps any owner awake at night: operational staff turnover. Finding a punctual waiter with a service vocations or a line cook who masters ticket times usually turns into an odyssey of posting in social media groups full of spam or paying excessive fees on corporate job platforms that charge unaffordable monthly subscriptions for independent businesses.

Added to this is the complexity of organizing shifts under the labor framework in effect in 2026. Following the definitive implementation of the reduction in standard weekly working hours, structuring kitchen and dining room schedules without incurring legal risks requires clarity from the very first job posting. If you are looking to complete your operational team with qualified staff from your area, this guide shows you how to write attractive job offers, comply with labor regulations, and publish your vacancies 100% free of charge.

The new 2026 shift framework: 42 hours and surcharges

Hiring staff for the gastronomy sector in Colombia requires adapting shift schedules to current labor legislation. Starting July 15, 2026, the maximum standard weekly work hours in Colombia was set at 42 hours per week pursuant to Law 2101 of 2021, without this implying 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 that you must consider before calling 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 employee gives their consent.
• Overtime cap: Overtime work is strictly limited to a maximum of 2 daily overtime hours and 12 weekly overtime hours per employee.
• Night shift surcharge: The night work period formally begins at 7:00 p.m. and extends until 6:00 a.m. the following day, with a legal surcharge of 35% over the standard hourly rate.
• Sunday and holiday surcharges: For the second semester of 2026, the surcharge for working on Sundays or ordinary holidays corresponds to 90% over the standard hourly rate, within the legal scale moving toward 100%.
• Mandatory day of rest: Every worker is entitled to a paid Sunday rest day per week. If they work on Sunday on a regular basis, the corresponding paid compensatory day off must be granted the following week.

If you need to understand the calculation of benefits upon terminating a reinforcement or seasonal contract, we recommend checking our detailed guide on how to calculate labor severance in Colombia step by step.

Sanitary and documentary requirements to filter candidates

To avoid wasting time interviewing profiles that cannot start working immediately, demand the required documents directly in the vacancy text. In the food and beverage sector, compliance with health regulations is strictly enforced to avoid penalties from local health secretariats:

• Food Handler Certificate and GMP: In accordance with Resolution 2674 of 2013 issued by 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 (GMP) of at least 10 hours per year.
• Occupational medical entrance exams: Remember that, according to the Substantive Labor Code, entrance and exit medical examinations are a responsibility and cost entirely assumed by the employer. Requiring candidates to pay for their own medical exams is illegal.
• Shift availability and proximity: Specify the exact neighborhood of your venue. In cities with heavy traffic congestion, hiring staff who live in the same locality or have direct night transportation routes drastically reduces tardiness and dropouts on closing shifts.

Ready-to-publish vacancy templates

A well-written vacancy prevents your WhatsApp from filling up with messages asking for basic information that should have been clear from the start. Copy, adapt, and publish 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 publish hospitality vacancies for free on Colombia Move

The classifieds and services portal of Colombia Move features a dedicated jobs section aimed at directly connecting local businesses with nearby talent. Unlike portals that intermediate communication or keep resumes behind paywalls, here contact is established immediately.

According to active listings on Colombia Move (September 2026), the hospitality category in jobs has 0 active ads. Publishing is free and without commission: inquiries go straight to the employer's WhatsApp, with no listing fee.

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

1. Go to the form at Publish Job Offer and choose the category of hospitality.
2. Select the section Jobs and the category corresponding to Hospitality u Operations.
3. Precisely indicate the area where your establishment operates so that nearby candidates can find you easily.
4. Paste the vacancy text detailing the position, the 42-hour weekly schedule, sanitary requirements, and benefits.
5. Register your contact WhatsApp number to receive resumes directly on your phone without intermediaries or delays.

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

Frequently asked questions

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

The maximum legal ordinary working week 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 a maximum of 2 additional daily overtime hours duly settled.

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

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

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

The 35% night surcharge on the ordinary hour officially 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 in that shift.

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

Publishing job ads on Colombia Move is 100% free, checked as of September 2026. There are no fees per ad, hiring commission charges, or mandatory subscriptions for restaurant owners or managers.

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

Occupational entrance medical exams are by law an exclusive financial obligation of the employer. The applicant can provide their prior food handling certification or the company can train them internally according to its annual GMP 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 different shifts on the same day, even with the worker's consent. This rule remains in effect in 2026 for operational kitchen and service staff.

❓ Is charging for the exam a scam?

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