Many companies are already planning how to operate under the new measures and the roadmap for the reopening announced by the government. It is time for companies to get a balance between the need and urgency to restart, continue their economic activities, and to adapt to the new health regulations that have emerged for the containment of COVID-19, which allow them to adapt to this "new normal".

Follow the Government's guidelines, as well as the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the sectoral protocols for their implementation - which will be designed by that ministry together with the Ministry of the Presidency, the University of Costa Rica and the Institute of Technical Standards of Costa Rica (INTECO) - will be a key aspect for when the operations in work centers or services restart. Diligent compliance with specific protocols, as well as vigilance to ethics and transparency in the exercise of their duties and obligations in front of their workers, commercial partners, and suppliers, will be key aspects to be considered by companies.

At the same time, those public officials who implement the new regulatory framework are subject to accountability concerning the proportionality and reasonableness of these new measures.

All of the above within the framework of respect for human rights.

Whatever your industry, the following tips are helpful

1. Quickly identify and prioritize your COVID-19 risks, according to your industry, business model, internal organization, new regulatory, and sanctioning framework.
2. In due time implement an Occupational Health and Risk management plan. Thus, establish hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection measures, as well as information, communication and training plans on contagion and individual and collective protection measures, and the consequences and exposure to sanctions in cases of non-compliance. Additionally properly manage your waste, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the care of confirmed cases in company collaborators.
3. Outline in advance a monitoring and mitigation plan to address both COVID-19 risks and any type of government measure that is not reasonable and proportional to your activity or service.
4. Review the logistics of the workplace: create a plan for the continuity of the service or operation, shifts and schedules, social distancing, and review its privacy policies and information protection.
5. Consider promoting the adoption of actions that ensure the principle of equality and non-discrimination, during the implementation process.
6. Identify the positions that can be held in Work from Home modality, to sign contracts and, home office addendums.
7. Identify workgroups that define the roles and responsibilities of each person during the preparation and response process for the attention of COVID-19.
8. Implement differentiated approaches for the most vulnerable groups in your workplace, when adopting the necessary measures of care, treatment, and containment of COVID-19.
9. Review and improve its channels for receiving and attending complaints, and its protocols for conducting adequate internal investigations, not only for dealing with incidents within the company but also for dealing promptly with any government action that affects the continuity of your business.
10. Handle promptly any claim arising from the attention of risks for COVID-19.

Don't worry, take care. We are here to advise you

At Dentons Muñoz we can assist you in the development and implementation of the specific protocols necessary for the continuity of your business, so it will not be affected or, worse, closed due to non-compliance with the sanitary measures issued to prevent the spread of COVID- 19.

We have extensive experience in:

• Occupational health and safety
• Labor, employment and immigration affairs
• Regulatory issues (sanitary measures and permits)
• Compliance and anti-corruption
• Defense of companies in sanctioning processes
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• State responsibility for a new regulatory framework
• Public and environmental law
• Intellectual property, privacy, technology and information security