labor & employment law

Labor and employment law counseling

The Paz Horowitz Labor & Employment Group works proactively with clients, using employment audits to uncover and address potential problems before lawsuits and administrative actions arise. We have participated in administrative and judicial labor cases throughout Ecuador. We counsel our clients on employment and labor policies, and we often prepare workplace manuals and guides to ensure compliance with Ecuador’s labor laws.

We regularly structure specific employment contracts for our clients and draft internal work regulations. We also provide legal advice on industrial health and safety issues and employment regulation compliance matters.

Ecuadorian labor law continues to be subject to legislative and regulatory changes. We constantly monitor them and keep our clients informed of all applicable reforms. We also structure the most effective legal structures for each case in order to minimize our client’s risks.

Specific services

Our attorneys have extensive experience advising clients on virtually all aspects of Ecuadorian labor and employment law, including:

Anti-corruption Compliance Training for Employees and Sub-contractors
Compensation and Wage Requirements
Compliance Review
Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreements
Disability Laws and Mandatory Accommodations
Discrimination and Harassment
Employment-at-will and Professional Service Agreements
Employment Manuals and Policies
Industrial Health and Safety Manuals
Employment Terminations
Immigration Law Issues
Independent Contractor Issues
Medical and Maternity Leave
Negotiations
Restructuring of the Workforce
Temporary Employment and Outsourcing
Unfair Competition
Unfair Labor Practices
Whistle-blowing
Technical Services Contracts
Complementary Service Contracts

Litigation

Our Labor & Employment Group works closely with our Litigation Group and has had great success in many employment litigation matters, including breach of contract and wrongful discharge cases. Likewise, Paz Horowitz often uses alternative dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation and arbitration) to obtain effective and efficient results for both employers and employees.

Representative matters

Preparation and negotiation of workforce terminations and restructurings, including a simultaneous labor restructuring process for approximately 3,600 employees in Ecuador’s main cities
Representation of employers in collective bargaining and labor agreements
Obtained Ministry of Labor authorization for special work schedules in the tourism and construction sectors