A. M. 
With 57 votes, the Legislative Assembly approved a reform to the Organic Law of the General Directorate of Customs, aiming to ensure that products imported into the country do not originate from unfair labor practices, such as forced, compulsory, or child labor.
The amendment strengthens controls on foreign trade and seeks to ensure that imports comply with internationally recognized fundamental labor principles and rights.
New Article 27-A
The reform incorporates Article 27-A within the “Customs System” section (Title II), Chapter II, related to “Customs Control, Oversight Entities, and their Powers”.
This new article establishes that the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), through its departments, will require importers to submit a written declaration assuring that the goods they are bringing into the country have not been manufactured using forced, compulsory, or child labor.
The provision also empowers the DGA to request additional information or documentation when there are red flags that raise reasonable doubts about the origin of the products. The verification may encompass the entire supply chain, including manufacturing, assembly, and distribution.
Sanctions and immediate measures
If it is proven that an importer submitted false information or failed to provide the required documentation, they may face administrative, civil, or criminal penalties.
Furthermore, the DGA may take immediate measures such as halting customs processing, preventively detaining the merchandise, denying its entry into the country, or applying other actions contemplated in current legislation.
The institution will work in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to define mechanisms for cooperation, information exchange, and the application of the regulations. Both entities must adjust their computer systems and incorporate data analysis and risk management tools to strengthen oversight.
The reform will take effect eight days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
International commitment
The Salvadoran State, as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), reaffirms with this measure its commitment to respecting fundamental labor rights, especially the prohibition of the worst forms of child labor.
These practices are prohibited by ILO Convention 182 and by national legislation, such as the Growing Together Law, which protects children and adolescents from activities that may affect their health, safety, or overall development.
With this reform, the Assembly seeks to strengthen responsible trade and ensure that imports comply with international labor standards, thus reinforcing transparency and ethics in customs operations.
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