Nicaragua Labor Law and Employment Policy Overview

Employment Law Overview

• Key Legislation:
  • Labor Code
  • Social Security Law
  • Trade Union Law
• Legal Characteristics:
  • Aims to protect employee rights and promote social justice
  • Sets standards for minimum wage, working hours, vacations, and severance pay

Employment Contract Requirements

• Contract Types:
  • Fixed-term contracts
  • Indefinite-term contracts
• Contractual Provisions:
  • Must include details on job description, compensation, working hours, vacations, and termination conditions
• Language and Currency:
  • Contracts must be written in Spanish
  • Currency is the Nicaraguan córdoba (NIO)

Working Time Regulations

• Standard Working Hours:
  • 48 hours per week
• Rest Days and Breaks:
  • Minimum of 24 hours of rest per week
  • 30-minute break after 4 hours of work per day

Vacation Policy

• Annual Leave:
  • 15 days of paid annual leave for every 6 months of service
• Public Holidays:
  • 10 statutory public holidays
• Special Leave:
  • Sick leave: Up to 26 weeks
  • Maternity leave: 12 weeks
  • Paternity leave: 5 days

Employee Severance and Contract Termination

• Notice Period:
  • Employer: 15 days
  • Employee: 15 days
• Severance Pay:
  • Minimum of 1 month's salary, up to 5 months' salary based on years of service
• Unfair Dismissal Protection:
  • Employer must prove just cause for dismissal, or employee is entitled to compensation

Tax Laws

• Personal Income Tax:

  • Salary Range (NIO)	Tax Rate
    0 - 100,000	0%
    100,000 - 200,000	15%
    200,000 - 350,000	20%
    350,000 - 500,000	25%
    500,000 and above	30%

• Social Security Contributions:

  • Employer: 18.5%
  • Employee: 6.35%

Health Insurance

• Insurance Policy:
  • Employers are required to provide health insurance for employees
• Coverage:
  • Basic medical services, medication, and hospitalization

Compensation and Benefits

• Minimum Wage:
  • 4,286.33 NIO/month
• Salary Structure:
  • Base salary, bonuses, allowances

Work Permits and Visas

• Permit Requirement:
  • Foreigners require a work permit to work in Nicaragua
• Application Process:
  • Submit an application to the Nicaraguan Immigration Office
  • Provide documents such as passport, employment contract, and health certificate

Confidentiality and Non-Compete Clauses

• Enforceability:
  • Confidentiality and non-compete clauses are enforceable in Nicaragua
• Common Provisions:
  • Prohibit employees from disclosing confidential information after leaving employment
  • Restrict employees from working for competitors after leaving employment

Training and Development

• Legal Requirements:
  • Employers must provide safety training and skills development for employees
• Government Support:
  • Government provides training subsidies and programs

Workplace Diversity and Inclusion

• Legal Requirements:
  • Prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics
• Enforcement Measures:
  • Employers must develop and implement anti-discrimination policies

Remote Work Policy

• Legal Framework:
  • No specific legal framework for remote work in Nicaragua
• Tax and Insurance Implications:
  • Remote work may impact tax and social security obligations

Authoritative Website Addresses

• Nicaraguan Ministry of Labor