As the pandemic has changed the ways of accomplishing tasks and telecommuting has gained ground in all markets, flexibility in terms of where and when to work will be one of the factors most valued by employees in this new reality.
The threats caused by the spread of Covid-19, caused companies globally to look for new ways of working. Most teams chose to readjust their dynamics and focused on promoting remote work.
Although working from home is considered a non-wage incentive because of the flexibility and benefits it provides to the employee, this mode of work is not yet a trend for companies in Guatemala.
Implementing work from home or home office, is a modality increasingly popular among executives and professionals who see the benefits that telecommuting provides.
Businessmen from Central America and the Dominican Republic ask that ILO Convention 190 not be ratified, arguing that countries already have regulations to deal with violence and harassment in the workplace.
The Federation of Private Entities of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (Fedepricap), through a statement dated August 9, reported that they agreed to request from the governments "...
Because there is still no regulation for part-time employment in Guatemala, textile businessmen estimate that the country loses between 40 and 70 thousand jobs.
For representatives of the Costume and Textile Commission (Vestex), the high operating and labor costs in Guatemala cause businessmen to send cut pieces to Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to be assembled.
With the implementation of a new Labor Code, a process which previously took four years to complete can now be done in just over an hour.
According to the judge Mayra Woo, head of Fifth District Labour Court of Managua, this agility is thanks to the implementation of the Procedure Code, which came into effect on June 28 and aims to promote transparency, orality and immediacy.
As of May 29 a new Labour Code will come into force as well as the introduction of oral trials in labor lawsuits.
Labor trials are to be conducted orally, and the new Labour and Social Security Code of Nicaragua (Law 815) also allow workers to file their application before a judge verbally.
In the past, resolution of a labor case took six years, but with this new Code that time will be reduced to six months.
The amount donated by the U.S. is for project "Better Work" which links the application of labor laws and international trade opportunities.
The Secretary of Labor of the United States, Hilda Solis, said that with this project, "Nicaragua joins the countries which accept what is considered a gold standard for the enforcement of labor rights in the textile and clothing sector."
Increased usage of online social networks forces companies to regulate Internet access by their employees.
On the other side, an adequate use of social networks can be beneficial for companies, specially in the marketing department.
Osvaldo Madriz Ramírez, from BDS Asesores, analyzes the subject and lists which legal alternatives companies have for regulating their employees' internet access in work hours, and how they can enforce it.