Employment Law and Labour Law

The Puerto Rico Supreme Court recently issued a decision reaffirming the importance of just cause for employment terminations in Puerto Rico.

Collective dismissal, particularly the involvement of trade unions in the process, has long been controversial in Brazil. Following recent labour reforms and court decisions, the Supreme Court is set to rule again...

Justified dismissal is one of the most delicate and complex figures within the field of labor law. This is the termination of the employment relationship by the employer, based on legitimate causes that must be clearly established in the legislation and in the employment contract.

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours and abolish the traditional '6×1' work schedule. However, the approved text contains problematic wording that may increase costs for all employers beyond what was intended, while also affecting collective bargaining arrangements in ways that could undermine recent labour market reforms.

Hiring foreign talent requires more than just filing work permits correctly. Companies must also demonstrate corporate, labor, and administrative compliance to immigration authorities who increasingly scrutinize employers alongside workers. A seemingly minor internal payment delay of just two days can derail an entire immigration process, revealing how operational procedures directly impact migration outcomes.

Mexico's manufacturing sector faces a critical deadline: by 2030, all productive companies must transition to a 40-hour workweek while maintaining current production demands. This regulatory shift presents complex challenges for maquila and labor-intensive operations, particularly along the northern border where talent shortages, rising wages, and international competition converge to create unprecedented operational pressures that require strategic planning beyond simple schedule adjustments.

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours and abolish the traditional '6×1' work schedule. However, the approved text contains problematic wording that may increase costs for all employers beyond what was intended, while also affecting collective bargaining arrangements in ways that could undermine recent labour market reforms.

Puerto Rico's Department of Labor and Human Resources launched Desempleo Digital on September 1, 2026, fundamentally transforming how employers interact with the agency for unemployment insurance and temporary non-occupational disability insurance services. The new digital platform introduces significant changes to account access, filing procedures, payment processing, and third-party representative management that require immediate attention from employers and their service providers.

Mexico's Social Security Institute (IMSS) is transitioning to a fully digital Employer Identification Card system, eliminating physical cards in favor of electronic verification through the IMSS Mailbox. Companies must ensure their digital infrastructure and authorized personnel information are current to maintain compliance with the new requirements taking effect in September 2026.

Para combatir la falsificación de certificados de incapacidad médica que justifican ausencias al trabajo, el Órgano Ejecutivo emitió el 11 de agosto de 2025 el Decreto Ejecutivo No. 17 de 2025, que reguló las formalidades y condiciones para la expedición de los certificados médicos de incapacidad y el procedimiento de verificación de su autenticidad y validez.

To combat the falsification of medical leave certificates used to justify absences from work, the Executive Branch issued Executive Decree No. 17 of 2025 on August 11, 2025, regulating the formalities and conditions for issuing medical leave certificates and the procedure for verifying their authenticity and validity.

Tras la aprobación de la Ley 513 de 2026, el Órgano Ejecutivo emitió el Decreto Ejecutivo No. 1 de 31 de agosto de 2026, que reglamenta dicha ley con la finalidad de mejorar su cumplimiento y alcanzar sus objetivos.