Colombia's president bypasses lawmakers and issues decree to let voters decide on labor reform

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has bypassed legislative opposition and signed a decree summoning voters to the polls in August to decide changes to the country’s labor laws, including whether workdays should be limited to eight hours. Petro's Wednesday decree fulfilled his threat to Congress to put his labor system overhaul before voters should senators not approve the 12-question referendum themselves. He issued the measure amid a tense political climate following the Saturday shooting of opposition senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay during a public event. The referendum has become the crux of long-running tensions between the executive and legislative branches.