Quevedo & Ponce - Legal News
Certification of Direct Substitutes for Persons with Disabilities in Ecuador: A Step Toward Labor Inclusion and Social Protection
- September 4th, 2025
- Quevedo & Ponce
The recent Regulation on the certification of direct substitutes for persons with disabilities, issued by the Ministry of Labor and published in the Official Gazette in August 2025, represents a significant normative development in the field of labor rights and social inclusion in Ecuador. Its objective is to regulate the procedure by which family members or legal representatives may be accredited as direct substitutes, thereby guaranteeing the full exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Who may serve as direct substitutes?:
According to the Organic Law on Persons with Disabilities, direct substitutes may include relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, the spouse or common-law partner, legal representatives, or attorneys-in-fact. These substitutes assume responsibility for the maintenance and care of a person with a severe, very severe, or complete disability, and may therefore benefit from labor inclusion measures, including compliance with the mandatory 4% hiring quota.
Requirements and procedure:
To obtain certification, applicants must submit documents to the Regional Labor Directorates, including the identity card, a disability certificate issued by the national health authority, and, in certain cases, court judgments or sworn affidavits. The process entails verification by competent officials and the issuance of the certificate through a technological platform managed by the Ministry of Labor. The certification is valid for two years and may be renewed upon fulfillment of the established requirements.
Loss of substitute status:
The regulation also establishes grounds for loss of substitute status, such as the death of the beneficiary or the substitute, the beneficiary’s entry into an employment relationship, the reduction of the degree of disability, or failure to comply with child support obligations. In cases of proven negligence in care, the substitute may be permanently disqualified.
Legal and social impact:
The certification of direct substitutes not only reinforces the protection of priority attention groups but also promotes the labor inclusion of persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors. In addition, it provides legal certainty to employers in fulfilling their obligations and ensures that fundamental rights are not violated.
At Quevedo & Ponce, we believe that labor inclusion and the care of persons with disabilities begin with providing legal security to families and support to businesses. We have attorneys specialized in the certification of direct substitutes for persons with disabilities, advising both families and companies on compliance with labor regulations; we accompany each procedure with sensitivity and human commitment, guaranteeing legal certainty and respect for rights, because behind each legal process there is a person and a story that deserves protection and care.
Más Artículos
Piercing the Corporate Veil in Ecuador: When limited liability no longer protects shareholders
Limited liability is one of the main advantages of incorporating a company. However, in Ecuador this protection is not absolute. Courts may apply the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil and extend liability to shareholders or directors when the company has been misused. This has become increasingly relevant in commercial litigation and debt recovery cases.
Levantamiento del velo societario en Ecuador: cuándo la responsabilidad limitada deja de ser un escudo
La responsabilidad limitada es uno de los principales beneficios de constituir una compañía; sin embargo, en Ecuador no es absoluta. En determinados casos, los jueces pueden aplicar el levantamiento del velo societario y extender la responsabilidad a socios o administradores cuando se demuestra abuso de la personalidad jurídica. Este criterio cobra cada vez mayor relevancia en litigios mercantiles y de recuperación de cartera.
Nice Classification: Summary of Goods and Services for Trademark Registration
The Nice Classification constitutes the cornerstone of the international system used to organize goods and services for trademark registration purposes and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The system divides goods and services into 45 classes and serves as the technical foundation for determining the scope of trademark protection. Its proper application is essential to ensure adequate protection and to avoid limitations or potential conflicts.
Clasificación de Niza: Resumen de Productos y Servicios para el Registro de Marcas
La Clasificación de Niza es el eje del sistema internacional utilizado para organizar los productos y servicios a efectos del registro de marcas, administrada por la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI). Este sistema divide los productos y servicios en 45 clases y constituye la base técnica que determina el alcance de la protección marcaria, siendo fundamental su correcta aplicación para garantizar una protección adecuada y evitar limitaciones o conflictos futuros.
Reactivation as an Exceptional Legal Mechanism within the Popular and Solidarity Economy: Regulatory Scope and Procedure
Resolution No. SEPS-IGT-IGS-IGJ-INFMR-INGINT-2025-0244 introduced reactivation as an exceptional legal mechanism within the Popular and Solidarity Economy, allowing certain organizations undergoing ordinary liquidation proceedings to resume their activities, provided that they demonstrate that the causes leading to liquidation have been remedied and that they possess economic and legal viability, thereby reaffirming the role of the Superintendency of Popular and Solidarity Economy in preserving organizational structures with social and economic impact
