Guatemala’s Anti-Bureaucracy Law

In the modern post-pandemic world, the use of technology to simplify human interactions has become a truism.

In this sense, derived from a reaction to a growing social and business demand, on May 5, 2021, the legislative body enacted Decree 5-2021, the Anti-Bureaucracy Law, which aims to modernize administrative management, using information and communication technologies to facilitate user management, providing access to online consultations and 100% digital payment platforms. Therefore, the law orders public institutions to allocate part of their budgets for the automation of processes within a period not exceeding 6 months, using as a pillar of the modernization project of the executive agency, the advanced electronic signature, and electronic communications, both embodied in Decree 47-2008 and whose boom has increased especially in recent years.

The plan to modernize and automatize administrative procedures aims to provide the following benefits in a timely manner:

Right to be informed of the status of the procedure.
Eliminate unnecessary procedures or supporting documents.
Prohibit the user from being asked for documents or procedures that the same administrative entity grants (understanding that the institution must coordinate it internally).
Support the electronic signature recognized by decree 47-2008 and regulations.
Promote the use of electronic payment platforms.
Promote the modernization of government institutions.

Andrés Cofiño Guzmán 
García & Bodán
Guatemala