CODIA pushes for debt settlement as Atlas faces labor dispute

In the Dominican Republic, the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) has launched an institutional plan to support the implementation of Law 16-26. This law establishes an extraordinary framework for paying contractors for public works completed for the state. CODIA President George Richardson stated that the priority is to ensure distributive justice for professionals who have faced long-standing unpaid debts for projects such as schools, hospitals, and roads. The organization expressed its willingness to collaborate with President Luis Abinader’s administration to settle these historical liabilities through technical support and oversight.

In Colombia, Atlas Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada has sparked controversy by announcing it will stop paying overtime and night surcharges starting August 21, 2026. The company cited Resolution 2708 from the Ministry of Labor, which repealed previous circulars regarding workdays in the private security sector. However, legal debate has emerged, as experts note that the repeal of a circular does not automatically strip workers of rights established by existing labor laws. The Ministry of Labor clarified that while certain exceptions exist regarding the maximum limits of supplementary work, the sector is not exempt from all regulations regarding overtime remuneration.