8:30 - 9:15 – Registration and coffee

9:15 - 9:30 – Welcome and introductions

9:30 - 10:30 – Session one: Mitigating political and economic uncertainty

Amid changing governments and rising inflation, employers across Central and South America face a challenging year ahead. As political and economic uncertainty take hold, this session will provide an overview of what changing political leadership means for employers across the region, and what businesses can do to overcome harsh economic conditions.

10:30 - 11:30 – Session two: Driving forward your diversity and inclusion agenda

In the wake of the global #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, corporate D&I policies have become even more important. But different regions face different challenges. This session will consider: ILO recommendations and how different nations are tackling harassment and discrimination trends across the region; the push for equal pay and transparency; whether the rise in prominence of ESG has pushed D&I up c-suite agendas; and what strategies companies should implement to benefit all stakeholders.

11:30 - 12:00 – Coffee break

12:00 - 1:00 – Session three: How to undertake effective internal investigations

From discrimination and harassment to fraud and more, what are the internal investigations keeping in-house counsel up at night? Have remote and teleworking laws made workplace probes harder or easier? And, with little to no specific labour regulations available, what challenges do lawyers face when conducting investigations? This session will discuss the challenges in attempting to uncover illegality and how to investigate workplace misconduct effectively while meeting requirements in employee-friendly jurisdictions.

1:00 - 2:30 – Networking lunch

2:30 - 3:00 – In conversation with Carolina Rodrigues, GE Renewable Energy

A fireside chat with leading in-house counsel Carolina Rodrigues, senior labour and employment counsel for Latin America at GE Renewable Energy, to examine the regional employment trends impacting the multinational business and how she is attempting to overcome them.

3:00 - 4:00 – Session four: How to work effectively with trade unions

While 2022 saw trade union membership hit a record low in the US, unions remain strong south of the border. Some are now arguably even stronger following the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. This session will provide an overview of union demands across Latin America and advice to counsel on effective negotiation strategies.

4:00 - 4:30 – Coffee break

4:30 - 5:30 – Session five: Pay and benefits for a modern workforce

As a solution to high inflation, some companies are now paying employees in US dollars or cryptocurrency rather than local currency. But what are the legal obstacles to overcome? This session will consider this and other key trends in pay and benefits across Latin America, including enhancements in family-related policies, and why it is important to consider compensation through the lens of D&I and ESG. Panellists will also consider how upcoming changes to statutory benefits may affect businesses.

5:30 - 5.35 – Closing remarks 

5.35 onwards – networking drinks reception exclusively sponsored by Littler