Category Archives: Blog

Amendment to the regulation of the Tax Relief Law

The Ministry of Treasury clarified the application of the VAT exemption in commercial leases, during the months of April, May and June 2020 determined in the Tax Relief Law in face of the COVID-19, establishing that such exemption is applicable for both, real state and movable property, the latter of tangible or intangible nature. At…

Compulsory licenses for patents

As in other legislations around the world, in Central America each country regulates those cases in which, for justified reasons of extreme urgency due to emergencies in public health or national security, and when anti-competitive or abusive practices exist, the State may require the granting of a compulsory license of a patent to attend said…

Immigration contention measures for COVID-19 in Guatemala

On Monday, April 6, 2020, the Guatemalan Migration Institute -IGM- in compliance with the presidential provisions, in relation to the state of calamity, issued a statement on its official page which contains special provisions to protect foreigners with the quality of tourists so that they can remain in Guatemala for the duration of the decreed state of…

Reforms to trademark and patent laws come into force in Nicaragua

On Friday, April 3, 2020, laws No. 1024, Law on Reforms and Additions to Law No. 380, Law on Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs, and Law No. 1025, Law on Reforms and Additions to Law 354, Law of Patents of Invention, Utility Models and Industrial Designs were published in La Gaceta, Official Newsletter, thus coming…

Administrative provisions Relating to Sanitary Registry procedures as a result of COVID-19 in Costa Rica

On April 1, 2020, the Costa Rican Health Ministry executed the directive DM-RM-0838-2020, related to the Administrative Regulations pertaining Registration, Renovation and Post-Registration Changes of Products of Sanitary Interest on the governmental platform “Registrelo”. These are some of the regulations issued in said directive: The validity of the registers of products of sanitary interest is…

Women’s labor rights in companies during COVID-19

The new legislation that authorizes companies to reduce working hours by up to 75% due to the health emergency of COVID-19 pandemic for Costa Rican society, must include gender equality and equity in its application. It is established that when the gross income of companies is reduced by 20% or more due to the emergency,…

Q&A in Immigration Matters Regarding the Coronavirus COVID-19 in Costa Rica

As a result of the state of national emergency declared by the Government of Costa Rica, the Immigration Authority has established temporary immigration measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures apply to all foreigners who are filed or have approved an immigration process in the country. As follow please find questions and answers…

New Bill – Moratorium for the VAT of the basic food basket

A new project was summited at the Costa Rican Congress, titled Moratorium for the Collection of the Value Added Tax of the Basic food basket to alleviate the economic effects of COVID-19 on the vulnerable population. It intends to delay up to two semesters after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entry into force…

Work from home during COVID-19 in Costa Rica

The concept of telework becomes especially relevant during the coronavirus health alert in Costa Rica. Below, our specialist Labor & Employment team answers frequently asked questions about work from home: Q: How can I regulate the teleworking? A:  It must be regulated with a contract or with an addendum and it’s preferable to apply an…

Workers affected by COVID-19 may collect their labor capitalization fund

Today, April 1st the Costa Rican Congress approved a Law that allows workers to withdraw the savings accumulated in the labor capitalization fund in some cases. This measure seeks to palliate the economic effects of the labor flexibility measures implemented in Costa Rica by COVID-19. Some important aspects are: When can the worker ask for…