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Norkent

Last updated: 09/08/2026

Norkent for Ecuador

LOPDP: SPDP discourages biometrics for time control due to workplace asymmetry. 5 working days with 2 off.

ISOEC
CurrencyUS dollar (USD)
LanguageSpanish, Kichwa and Shuar
Weekly hours40 hours
OvertimeMax. 4 h/day and 12 h/week
Weekly rest2 consecutive days

Working hours and overtime

Maximum weekly hours: 40 hours, distributed across five daytime shifts with two consecutive rest days.
Maximum daily hours: 8 daily hours (art. 47 of the Labor Code).
Limit (overtime): Maximum 4 overtime hours per day and 12 per week (art. 55 of the Labor Code).
Overtime premium / compensation: 50% over the ordinary-hour value on daytime shifts; 100% on night, Sunday or holiday shifts (art. 55 of the Labor Code).

Breaks and leave

Weekly rest: Two consecutive rest days (generally Saturday and Sunday), as part of the 5-day workday with 2 off (art. 69 of the Labor Code).
Rest between shifts: Minimum of 16 hours between workdays, under the Organic Law on the Right to Human Care.
Vacation: 15 days of paid rest per year of service, accumulable up to 3 years (art. 69 of the Labor Code).
Maternity: 12-week leave (2 prenatal weeks and 10 postnatal), with family allowance funded by the IESS.
Paternity: Paid leave of 10 calendar days, funded by the IESS (art. 152 of the Labor Code).

Personal data protection

Data protection law: Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data (LOPDP, 2021).
Competent authority: Superintendency for the Protection of Personal Data (SPDP), under the Ministry of National Defense.
Geolocation: Considered sensitive data under the LOPDP; requires the explicit and informed consent of the data subject.
Biometric data: The SPDP issued an explicit statement considering the use of biometric data for attendance control "inappropriate and not recommended", due to the asymmetry inherent in the employment relationship.
Workplace monitoring: It must respect the minimization, proportionality and purpose principles of the LOPDP; the typical legal basis is contract performance, not consent due to asymmetry.

Digital attendance systems

Digital recording allowed: Yes. The Labor Code neither prohibits nor requires a specific method; QR and manual are not sensitive data under the LOPDP.
QR recording: Yes, allowed.
Mobile device recording: Yes, allowed, in compliance with the LOPDP principles.
Manual recording: Yes, allowed.

Status of Norkent in Ecuador

Allowed with conditions
Norkent is compatible with the Ecuadorian labor framework. By using QR and manual recording, it falls outside the SPDP's prohibition on biometrics for attendance control, which is a comparative advantage over biometric systems. Before its implementation in Ecuador, a company should consider: 1. Information to the worker: the employer must inform workers about the purpose, retention period and the rights they have as data subjects (LOPDP). 2. Valid legal basis: have a valid legal basis for processing (contract performance, not only consent, given the asymmetry context of the employment relationship). 3. Minimization and proportionality: apply the principles of minimization and proportionality when collecting attendance data. 4. Proof before the Ministry of Labor: Norkent must allow evidencing the workday and overtime before the Ministry of Labor, under arts. 47 and 55 of the Labor Code. 5. Large volumes: if the company processes large volumes of data, consider appointing a Data Protection Officer and registering processing activities.