Regulatory and legal updates in Mexico, Colombia, and others

Regulatory and legal developments continue to evolve in Mexico and Colombia, with new updates emerging in Ecuador.

In Mexico, legal consequences for failing to pay child support have been clarified, including potential prison sentences of two to six years and inclusion in the National Registry of Alimony Debtors. Such non-compliance may also result in restrictions on passports and driver’s licenses. Furthermore, legal precedents in Veracruz indicate a shift toward treating pets as sentient beings, which may impact custody and maintenance requests during separations.

In Colombia, the Ministry of Labor has issued Resolution 2708, repealing 11 administrative circulars issued during the Gustavo Petro administration. The Ministry cited the need to correct jurisdictional competence and legal technicalities, arguing some circulars lacked sufficient legal backing. These revoked documents addressed issues such as overtime, union freedom, gender equity, and protections for workers with disabilities. While the government asserts that statutory labor rights remain intact, critics and labor organizations, including the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), have expressed concern that the move could lead to labor deregulation or a “protection vacuum.” Additionally, tax debt regulations regarding the DIAN maintain a five-year statute of limitations for debt extinction following inactivity.

In Ecuador, the Monetary and Financial Policy and Regulation Board has updated credit bureau regulations. The changes reduce the period for conserving credit information from six to four years and mandate that financial institutions prioritize data from the last two years when determining credit scores.