On 21 March 2024, the National Government issued the Decree 390 of 2024, by which it established the procedure for granting the Leniency Program in transnational bribery and corruption (“Leniency Program”) matters. Under the Leniency Program, it is possible to obtain full or partial immunity from possible sanctions for corruption and transnational bribery. In order to obtain the benefits of the Leniency Program, the company must provide relevant information on the aspects of the commission of such acts and the benefits obtained.
In the last few days, the Superintendence of Companies ( “SoC”) has begun to invite various companies under its surveillance and control to participate, on a voluntary basis, in a diagnostic exercise on the implementation of sustainable practices. This is in accordance with Chapter XV of the Basic Legal Circular of the SoC: “Administrative Recommendations for the Submission of the Sustainability Report”.
All those persons registered in the Sole Registry of Bidders (Registro Único de Proponentes) (RUP for its acronym in Spanish) must update their registration no later than 5 April 2024, otherwise, the effects of the registration will cease and they will have to register again, providing all the necessary documentation, as if it were the first registration.
Our latest Antitrust and Competition Handbook is now available. We have developed this guidance as a practical resource for multinationals trying to harmonize their approach to antitrust compliance in different countries in Latin America, as well as for local companies that are bringing their compliance programs up to international standards.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the workplace. Much like in countries across the globe, the benefits of new AI technology are gaining traction in Latin America. However, employers should be aware of its risks, particularly in our regions’ context
Join us for a four-part webinar series as our US moderators welcome colleagues from around the globe to share the latest labor and employment law updates and trends. US-based multinational employers with business operations in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Americas regions will hear directly from local practitioners on the major developments they need to know, and come away with practical tips and takeaways to implement.
The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, the sole authority for competition protection in Colombia, issued a Guide to Provide Orientation in the Implementation of Competition Compliance Programs. Although the Guide has a doctrinal scope and does not impose obligations, its publication allows the market to understand the vision that the SIC has on the relevance of these types of programs, the benefits of implementing them, and the key elements that they should contain and develop. In this way, the SIC highlights the value of these programs as a mechanism for the prevention and early detection of anticompetitive conduct.
On 27 September 2022, the Ibero-American Network for the Protection of Personal Data published the Guide for the Implementation of Standard Contractual Clauses for the International Transfer of Personal Data, which sets out certain aspects to be considered when making international transfers of personal data through the use of standard contractual clauses. The Guide includes non-binding guidance for those who make ITPD from member countries of the RIPD to non-adequate jurisdictions.
On 7 August 2022, Gustavo Petro Urrego became the new President of the Republic of Colombia for the period 2022-2026, along with the Vice-President, Francia Márquez. Both are members of the political party Pacto Histórico, which is known for promoting center-left social, political and economic initiatives. The governance plan of the President evidences that employment, compensation and social security matters will be part of the focal points of his office.
In one of its latest decisions, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce recognized that the implementation of compliance programs in competition matters might be considered a mitigation factor in the graduation of an eventual sanction. Recently, the SIC has pronounced the importance of these programs, imposing them as behavioral remedies in merger control procedures, as well as in decisions regarding anti-competitive practices. Specifically, in Resolution 22645 of 2022, the SIC imposed remedies to the transaction between two companies, imposing as a behavioral obligation within the companies the implementation of an Antitrust compliance program.