Thousands of union members, teachers, students and Indigenous people are participating in a national strike in Colombia on Wednesday to protest the social and economic policies of President Ivan Duque, the killing of human rights activists and police violence.

The marches are the latest in a sporadic series of protests which began late last year, including September demonstrations against police brutality that led to 13 deaths.

The government has warned protesters that their gatherings increase the risk of novel coronavirus infections. Colombia, which was under lockdown for more than five months, is set to top one million confirmed infections later this week.

Protesters are demanding a variety of government concessions, including a guaranteed income for those who lost their jobs in the pandemic, more funding for health and education and steps to stop gender-based violence.

"We're not scared of coronavirus. We're scared of going back to our territories without getting a dialog with the president," said Harold Arias, 32, who is among thousands of indigenous people visiting Bogota to protest in Bolivar Plaza.

Protest leaders, including indigenous representatives, have demanded a meeting with Duque to discuss the murders of activists, whose deaths the government attributes to criminal gangs and leftist rebels.

Some 10,000 indigenous people have arrived in Bogota this week, principally from southwestern Colombia.

Business leaders have called for protests to be suspended on fears they could damage a nascent economic recovery. The government estimates the economy will contract 5.5 per cent this year.

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