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

Quick answer: post the waiter or cook vacancy with no commission, a 42-hour weekly schedule, food handling certificate, and direct contact via WhatsApp. There is no listing fee.

Running a restaurant, café, or bar in Colombia comes with a constant challenge that keeps any manager up at night: operational staff turnover. Finding a punctual waiter with a passion for service or a line cook who can keep up with order timing often turns into an ordeal of posts in social media groups full of spam, or excessive fees on corporate job platforms that charge monthly subscriptions out of reach for an independent business.

On top of this is the complexity of organizing shifts under the labor framework in force in 2026. After the definitive implementation of the reduction in the standard workweek, structuring kitchen and dining room schedules without incurring legal liabilities requires clarity from the very first announcement. If you want to complete your operational team with qualified staff from your area, this guide shows you how to write attractive offers, comply with labor regulations, and publish your vacancies 100% free.

The new legal shift framework in 2026: 42 hours and surcharges

Hiring staff for the food service sector in Colombia requires adapting shift schedules to current labor legislation. As of July 15, 2026, the maximum standard working week in Colombia has been set at 42 hours per week under Law 2101 of 2021, without this meaning a reduction in the base salary agreed with the worker.

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

• Prohibition of double shifts on the same day: By express legal provision, you cannot schedule the same operational worker to perform two separate shifts within the same 24-hour period, even if the employee gives their consent.
• Overtime cap: Overtime work is strictly limited to a maximum of 2 extra hours per day and 12 extra hours per week per employee.
• Night shift surcharge: The night work period formally applies from 7:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 a.m. the following day, with a legal surcharge of 35% over the ordinary hourly rate.
• Sunday and holiday surcharges: For the second half of 2026, the surcharge for working on Sundays or ordinary public holidays is 90% over the ordinary hourly rate, within the legal scale toward 100%.
• Mandatory rest day: Every worker is entitled to one paid Sunday rest day per week. If the employee habitually works on Sundays, the corresponding paid compensatory day off must be granted the following week.

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

Health and documentation requirements to screen candidates

To avoid wasting time interviewing profiles that cannot start working in your operation right away, require the mandatory documents in the job listing text. In the food and beverage sector, health regulations are strictly enforced to avoid penalties from local health authorities:

• Food Handling Certificate and GMP: In accordance with Resolution 2674 of 2013 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, every food handler must have an annual medical fitness certificate and proof of at least 10 hours per year of training in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Entry occupational medical exams: Remember that, according to Resolution 1843 of 2025, the employer pays for the entry occupational medical exam and any complementary tests. Requiring the candidate to pay for their own medical exams is illegal.
• Shift availability and proximity: Specify the exact neighborhood of your location. In cities with heavy traffic congestion, hiring staff who live in the same locality or have direct night transport routes drastically reduces lateness and turnover on closing shifts.

Job listing templates ready to publish

A well-written listing 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.  - 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.  

That salary is the agreed amount. Voluntary tips are not part of it; details are in the guide to Law 1935.

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 free hospitality job listings in Colombia on Colombia Move

The classifieds and services portal Colombia Move has a dedicated jobs section designed to connect local businesses directly with nearby talent. Unlike portals that mediate communication or hold resumes behind payment gateways, here contact is established immediately.

According to active listings on Colombia Move (checked November 3, 2026), the hospitality category in jobs has 0 active listings. Posting is free and commission-free: contact goes directly to the employer's WhatsApp, with no listing fee.

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

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

If you want to optimize how your business is presented for future recruitment calls, check our tips at 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 standard workweek is 42 hours per week as of July 15, 2026, according to Law 2101 of 2021. It can be distributed over 5 or 6 days with at least one full paid rest day, allowing a maximum of 2 additional overtime hours per day, duly paid.

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

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

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

The 35% night surcharge over the ordinary hourly rate formally applies from 7:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 a.m. the following day, and must be paid at that percentage to all kitchen or service staff working during that period.

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

The listing is posted in the Jobs section, Hospitality and Tourism category, using the posting form. Publishing that vacancy has no listing fee or commission on Colombia Move, checked November 3, 2026.

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

Entry occupational medical exams are by law an exclusive financial obligation of the employer. The applicant may provide their prior food handling certification, or the company may 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 force in 2026 for kitchen and service operational staff.

❓ Is it a scam to charge for the exam?

The employer pays for the entry medical exam and the work uniform, and charging these costs to the applicant is not allowed. Resolution 1843 of 2025, article 5 literal a and article 26 paragraph 2, prohibits charging for it or requesting it. Articles 57 and 230 of the Substantive Labor Code require free shoes and work clothing every four months for permanent workers earning up to two minimum wages who have been employed for more than three months, and an exit health exam if requested upon leaving when an entry exam or exam during employment was held. Checked November 3, 2026.