Regulatory/market watch

摘要

1. Four months after taking office in May 2021, the administration of President Guillermo Lasso submitted an omnibus bill to the National Assembly outlining key components of its reform agenda. Although the bill's focus is the labour market, it also includes tax reforms, provisions for new duty-free zones and changes to oil, mining and telecommunications regulations to promote investment. A watered-down version of the bill is likely to pass. 2. Less than a year after removing its state of emergency, in April 2021 the government renewed restrictions on 16 provinces to help contain a rise in new coronavirus (Covid-19) infections. The measures lasted for a month, with the responsibility of containing the pandemic falling to municipal governments thereafter.