New labour law against discrimination and harassment in the private sector
Last August 2025, the Ministry of Labour of Ecuador published the Ministerial Agreement MDT-2025-102, which contains the Regulation for the prevention and attention to cases of discrimination, violence and harassment at work in the private sector. This regulation marks a significant step towards the creation of safer, more egalitarian and respectful work environments, aligned with the principles of human rights and corporate responsibility.
The new regulation establishes clear obligations for private sector employers, regardless of their size or line of business. Among the most relevant points are
Elaboration of an Internal Protocol that includes mechanisms for prevention, attention and follow-up in cases of discrimination or harassment in the workplace.
Implementation of a Psychosocial Risk Prevention Programme, mandatory for employers with more than 10 workers, in order to identify factors that may affect the emotional well-being of employees.
Implementation of a new complaint procedure, which must be channelled to the Labour Inspector and follow specific guidelines set out in the regulation.
This regulation represents a relevant change in compliance policies for companies, as it incorporates criteria for protection, confidentiality and effective follow-up in dealing with cases that may constitute violence or harassment in the workplace.
From a legal standpoint, employers must review and update their internal regulations, codes of ethics, human resources processes and training mechanisms to ensure that they comply with the new regulatory requirements.
ECIJA GPA 's labour team has prepared a newsletter that analyses the main legal scope of these regulations and provides practical recommendations for their effective implementation.
