Colombia: Retired Teachers to Receive 14th Month Pension Payment – Decree 144 of 2026

The Colombian government formalized a decades-long demand from retired teachers with the issuance of Decree 144 of 2026, officially recognizing the “mesada 14” – a 13th-month pension payment – for educators. The decree, published February 9th, orders the publication of Act 213 of 2025, passed by the Cámara and Senate, which amends Article 48 of the Colombian Political Constitution to include the additional payment. The measure applies to national, nationalized, and territorial teachers currently receiving pensions, as well as their surviving beneficiaries, according to statements released by the Presidential Administrative Department. The decree specifically directs the dissemination of the legislative act, numbered 213 of 2025 in the Cámara and 012 of 2025 in the Senate. The change to Article 48 of the Constitution establishes that retired teachers will receive the additional payment within the special pension regime for educators, and outside of the General Pension System of Colombia. Ambientarteradio.com reported the decree culminates a long-standing effort to address a historical debt to the teaching profession. While the decree confirms the legislative approval, details regarding the implementation timeline and the financial implications for the Colombian government remain unaddressed in publicly available documentation. El Tiempo reported the initiative proposes a new paragraph to Article 48 guaranteeing the payment. The Presidential Administrative Department confirmed the decree’s publication on its website, but has not yet announced a schedule for when retired teachers can expect to receive the additional payment. Infobae.com reported the decree was made public through the Presidential Administrative Department’s website.