Guatemalan Social Security Institute – Agreement Number 1556 Exemption from Surcharges on Social Security Contribution Fees Agreement Number 1556, issued by the Board of Directors of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) on January 28, 2025, regulates the exemption of one hundred percent of the surcharges on Social Security contribution fees that are paid or…
Category Archives: Guatemala
Blog, Guatemala, News, Tax
Newsflash: New Guatemala – U.S. Trade Agreement: Key Tariff Benefits and Challenges
13
Feb
Feb
On January 30, 2026, Guatemala and the United States of America signed a Reciprocal Trade Agreement through which approximately 70% of Guatemalan exports to that market regain zero-tariff benefits, complementing the DR-CAFTA regime, as reported by the Ministry of Economy. This agreement does not replace the current framework but reinforces it, providing greater certainty and…
Analysis, At BLP, Blog, Business Law, Competition & Antitrust, Dispute Resolution, Guatemala, Private Clients & Estate Planning, Real Estate & Hospitality
Good Faith: The Silent Pillar of Arbitration
09
Feb
Feb
Carolina Diab – Special Counsel, Guatemala In arbitration—as in life—not everything is written. Beyond rules, deadlines, and formalities, there exists a principle that silently upholds the legitimacy of the process: good faith. It is not always mentioned and is rarely expressly regulated, yet when it is absent, arbitration suffers and loses its essence. Revisiting this…
Blog, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, News, Nicaragua
BLP Receives Three Recognitions at the LatinFinance 2026 Deal of the Year Awards
30
Jan
Jan
BLP is honored to share that several transactions in which the Firm had the privilege of advising have been recognized in the LatinFinance Deals of the Year Awards, highlighting impactful financing and sustainable finance work across Central America. These recognitions are especially meaningful to us as they reflect the trust our clients have placed in…
Blog, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, News, Nicaragua
ESG Initiative Award Highlights BLP’s Leadership in Central America
29
Jan
Jan
BLP has been recognized by Latin Lawyer with the ESG Initiative Award for the implementation of its Green Habitat Project, an innovative initiative that promotes everyday sustainable practices among its professionals and actively fosters biodiversity from their homes. Launched last year and led by the Firm’s Environmental Committee, the Green Habitat Project encourages BLP lawyers…
Blog, Guatemala, Intellectual Property, News
Newsflash: New Notification Regulations at the Intellectual Property Registry
20
Jan
Jan
Internal Agreement 01-2026, issued by the Registry of Intellectual Property (RPI) on January 8, 2026, regulates the use of notifications through the Official Bulletin of the Intellectual Property Registry (BORPI) as a supplementary mechanism in administrative intellectual property procedures. This agreement seeks to address a recurring issue in the processing of files: the impossibility of…
Blog, Guatemala, Labor & Employment, News
New Minimum Wage in Guatemala: Employer Obligations as of January 2026
12
Jan
Jan
The Government of Guatemala, through Governmental Agreement No. 256-2025, approved an increase to the minimum wage, which entered into force on January 1, 2026, and is mandatory for all employers as of that date. The adjustment applies to all economic activities, with differentiated increases by sector: 5.5%: Agricultural 7.5%: Non-agricultural 4%: Export and maquila As…