Quevedo & Ponce - Noticias Legales
New Labor Rights under the Organic Law on Persons with Disabilities
- July 9th, 2025
- Quevedo & Ponce
The Organic Law on Persons with Disabilities, published on July 3, 2025, repeals the previous 2012 regulation and establishes a new legal framework aimed at reinforcing inclusion, stability, and labor equity for persons with disabilities in Ecuador.
Among the key changes, the obligation for employers with 25 or more employees to hire at least 4% of persons with disabilities is maintained, while promoting equitable territorial distribution, gender equity, and diversity of conditions. These individuals must be hired for full-time positions, except in cases where a medical certificate justifies part-time work. The right to telework is recognized for those pursuing postgraduate (fourth-level) studies.
The percentage of substitutes allowed within the inclusion quota is reduced to 25%, and rights such as a special indemnity equivalent to 18 months’ salary in the case of unjustified dismissal, voluntary reinstatement, medical leave for treatment and rehabilitation, and a three-month extension of maternity leave when a child is born with a disability are all reaffirmed. Caregivers’ rights are also strengthened, including a two-hour daily leave, and the transfer of medical leave to substitutes is allowed when necessary.
Failure to comply with these obligations may result in monetary fines or suspension of activities. Additionally, the law extends its protection to relatives, substitutes, and caregivers, clearly defining who may be considered as such, and excluding those who owe child support or receive government benefits for the person with a disability.
The law also introduces the figures of “substitute by human solidarity” and “certified caregiver” (recognized by the Ministry of Labor), consolidating a comprehensive approach to protecting and supporting persons with disabilities across all areas.
At Quevedo & Ponce, we have attorneys who are experts in labor regulations and the rights of persons with disabilities, offering specialized legal counsel in regulatory compliance, representation of persons with disabilities and their families, rights advocacy, and comprehensive support for employers and both public and private institutions.
Más Artículos
Fast Fashion in Ecuador: Legal Protection, Boundaries, and Emerging Challenges in the Creative Industry
The impact of fast fashion on the Ecuadorian intellectual property system, explaining which elements of fashion can be legally protected, which are not eligible for protection, and what the main challenges are for designers and brands when facing potential infringement.
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.
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.
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
Buying a used vehicle in Ecuador: legal steps that cannot be omitted
The purchase of a used vehicle in Ecuador involves compliance with specific legal and administrative requirements within defined deadlines. This legal bulletin outlines the key stages of the process, from the preliminary verification of the vehicle to the registration of the purchase agreement and the transfer of ownership, including the penalties applicable in case of non-compliance.
