Hiring is both exciting and challenging when your company is expanding. It can prove difficult to learn how to hire employees in Ecuador. Do you have the time to recruit candidates while you’re also establishing a subsidiary, deciding on a payroll option, and running your parent company?
Ecuador’s strong employment laws define a clear relationship between employees and employers. Staying well-versed on regulations regarding recruiting, hiring, and onboarding is essential for compliance. Here are a few guidelines to consider when hiring and recruiting in Ecuador.
Recruiting in Ecuador
Employers have a few options when it comes to sourcing talent in Ecuador, but personal recommendations and word of mouth are still popular recruitment methods in Ecuador.
Laws against discrimination in Ecuador
If you don’t comply with all laws while recruiting and hiring in Ecuador, you could face fines and costly operational delays. During the recruitment process, the most important laws you should remember are those in place to prevent discrimination. Ecuador’s constitution states that all individuals have the same opportunities and rights, including protection against discrimination based on the following characteristics:
- Place of birth
- Language
- Ethnic belonging
- Religion
- Sex
- Age
- Cultural identity
- Gender identity
- Migratory status
- Disability
- Civil status
- Political affiliation
- Ideology
- Legal record
- Health status
- Socioeconomic condition
- Sexual orientation
Since the law protects such a wide variety of characteristics, it’s important to be mindful of the questions you ask during meetings and interviews as well as the language you use in job advertisements.
How to hire employees in Ecuador
In Ecuador, most employment relationships require a written employment contract in Spanish. You should include important employment terms, such as termination requirements, statutory benefits, compensation, and more. All compensation and salary amounts should be in U.S. dollars instead of another currency.
Companies can choose from several different types of employment contracts to hire Ecuador employees depending on the nature of their employment. An indefinite-term employment contract is the most common. Fixed-term contracts are subject to various rules.
Ecuador employment laws
Ecuador has numerous employment laws for both resident and non-resident employers. For example, all employees must be enrolled in social security within the first 15 days of the working relationship. Employers need to register the employment contract with the Ministry of Labor using the Unified Worker System online. Employers are also required to keep written records of all signed contracts so that the Ministry of Labor can review the information at any time.
Onboarding in Ecuador
Every company has different goals and ways of operating, and your company should onboard employees using a process that fits your unique operation. That said, there are steps you can take to ensure employees are comfortable in their new roles.
Always review the employment contract with the employee during their first day or week to make sure both parties agree with the terms. If the employee is stepping into a highly technical position, you may want to provide some job-specific training to make sure they succeed.
Grow globally with G-P.
G-P never forgets that behind every hire is a human being. That’s why we’ve backed our fully customizable suite of global employment products with our robust team of HR and legal experts, so we can remain at your side, ready to support you as you build your global teams. With the #1 global employment platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your perfect full-time or contract match.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recruit, hire, and onboard anyone, anywhere.