Following a lack of support for these reforms in Congress, the Colombian president announced this measure.

The Colombian government will call for a referendum to allow citizens to decide on the future of a labor reform and another to the health system, given the lack of support in Congress, President Gustavo Petro announced on Tuesday.

The president did not immediately specify whether the reforms would be withdrawn from the legislature, where they have had a slow process.

Petro's decision came hours after eight congressmen from a Senate committee made up of 14 legislators announced that they would present a proposal to defeat the labor reform for a second time.

The consultation is the participation mechanism through which a question of a general nature is raised on a topic of importance and is submitted by the citizens, the President of the Republic or a local leader for consideration by the people so that they can express their opinion at the polls.

"The national government is going to call for a referendum to decide on the labor reform and the health reform, and let the people decide," Petro told reporters, after pointing out that Congress blocked the processing of the proposals.

The government of Petro, the first leftist president in Colombia's history, has suffered several setbacks in implementing the economic and social reforms he promised during his campaign, because he lacks a solid majority in Congress.