The Salvadoran government announced that in January 2020 it will submit a proposal to regulate the operation of nurseries dedicated to the care of employees' children, which will be mandatory for companies with more than 100 workers.
The regulation will be part of the application of the Special Law for the Regulation of Nurseries, which will enter into force on June 19, 2020.
Nayib Bukele returned to the Legislative Assembly the reform to the law of Free Zones that granted tax benefits for an additional period of 10 years to companies in the country to increase their investment in 100% with respect to the initially made.
On August 29, 2019, the Assembly informed that the Legislative Plenum endorsed the reform to the Law of Industrial and Commercial Free Zones, establishing that the users of these zones would have a term of 10 additional years (before there were five) to continue enjoying total exemption from taxes, which would be applicable once the period established for the regular enjoyment of this benefit expired.
The lack of a competition law in Guatemala could expose the country to sanctions from the European authorities, since it is a requirement demanded in the regulations of the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Since the end of 2016, the Association Agreement (AdA) required Guatemala to have a law on the matter, since in 2019 a Central American competition authority would have to be created.
In El Salvador, it is proposed that the law discussed in the Assembly, considers the reduction of minimum requirements for investments made in special economic zones, to compensate for the disadvantages of lack of productive activity in the area.
In July 2018, the Executive Branch presented to the Legislative Assembly the draft Law on Special Economic Zones (LZEE), which is being analyzed by the Economy Commission.
In the Central American region, the average unemployment rate for those aged between 15 and 24 is estimated to be around 11%, with lack of work experience being the main barrier to accessing the first job.
According to figures from the Central American Observatory of Social Development, Costa Rica and Panama are the countries in the region with the highest rates of youth unemployment, with 27% and 15%, respectively.
In El Salvador, the private sector is putting pressure on President Sánchez Cerén to sanction the recently approved administrative simplification law, which promises to facilitate procedures for doing business.
Eliminating unnecessary procedures that represent operational costs for users, reducing administrative procedures and removing requirements not required by law are some of the benefits that companies could obtain if the new law is approved.
A draft Law on Trade Defence establishes mechanisms to protect and defend the industry against unfair trade practices.
The bill, prepared jointly by the private sector and the government, will be presented on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Legislative Assembly. The aim of the law is to regulate actions such as massive imports in some sectors that could result in unfair practices.
The new legislation gives legal value to certified electronic signatures and establishes the basis for regulating service providers.
From a statement issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The Legislature has unanimously approved the Law on Electronic Signatures, these regulations give legal security to the certified use of electronic signatures, which through this means allows the country to be incorporated into the global environment, in which secure interactions occur within the information society.
President Sanchez Ceren has passed a Special Law Against Crime Extortion, which aims to improve the fight against the unfortunate practice which primarily affects the business sector.
From a statement issued by the presidency of El Salvador:
The president, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, has sanctioned Legislative Decree No. 953 containing the Special Law Against Crime Extortion, proposed by the government to streamline the prosecution of this crime.
The Law on Legal Stability for Investments has been approved, which aims to improve confidence in the country preventing changes to incentive schemes granted to foreign companies.
From a statement issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
Legislative Plenary approves Legal Stability Law for Investment
This is another important step forward in the legislative endeavor, as with this approval legal stability is granted to entrepreneurs who decide to invest in the country. Using this tool, legislators will be able to give domestic and foreign businessmen, certainty that, once their investment project is approved, no one can change the rules of the game.
A proposal has been made to reduce the number of times a public-private partnership project would pass through the filter of the Legislative Assembly.
Among the reforms to the Law on Public-Private Partnerships that the Council for Growth has suggested to Congress is a reduction, from three to one, of the number of times a Public- Private Partnership (PPP) project should go through the filter of parliamentary approval.
If approval is not given to the amendments to the Law on Public-Private Partnerships and the Money and Asset Laundering Act, the second disbursement will not be realised.
This was explained by Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes. "Donors are free to stipulate any conditions deemed appropriate. Everything that is the responsibility of the Executive has already been done," he said.
A correction to the Act 47 of 2013 enables corporations to continue to issue bearer shares.
By Alvaro Aguilar, partner at Lombardi Aguilar Group
The Government of Panama has issued a correction of Act 47 of 2013 so that corporations can continue to issue bearer shares. The law adopts a correction to the custody arrangement of bearer shares and the Government has enacted a law that seeks to preserve the image of Panama as a collaborating country in the fight against the abuse of its financial services, and which brings the nation up to date with trends in international law.
It should also hasten to adopt new laws to fight crime and reform the Special Act on Public Private Partnerships.
These were some of the recommendations made by José W. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business from the U.S.
During his visit to the Central American nation, officials met with entrepreneurs who are part of the National Council for Growth who said he came "to see how we can help ...