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Dec
13
2018

Mexico: UPDATE Regarding the USMCA, the Commercial Agreement Between the United States, Mexico and Canada

The new administration is about to introduce a bill to reform the Mexican Labour Code, reforms which will enforce the new constitutional reforms, and the implementation of ILO’s Convention 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining, Convention that has been recently ratified by the Mexican Senate. This new legislation is also in line with the commitments that Mexico undertook in Annex 23-A of the USMCA.

Nov
28
2018

Mexico: The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare published in the Official Gazette Official Standard NOM-035-STPS-2018 on psychosocial risk factors at work

The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare published in the Official Gazette Official Standard NOM-035-STPS-2018 (hereinafter “the NOM”) on psychosocial factors at work. The NOM sets forth the elements to identify, analyse and prevent psychosocial risk factors, as well as to promote a favourable organizational environment within the workplace.

From the NOM, the following main points may be highlighted:

  • The NOM will apply to companies having fifteen or more employees.
  • The Employer must set forth in writing, implement, maintain and disseminate throughout the workplace a psychosocial risk prevention policy that includes:
    • The prevention of psychosocial risk factors.
    • The prevention of workplace violence.
    • The promotion of a favourable organizational environment.
  • Employees are a key factor of this NOM: they must collaborate in order to have a favourable organizational environment and prevent any type of violence within the workplace.
Nov
28
2018

Mexico: The Commercial Agreement reached among the United States, Mexico and Canada includes Chapter 23 on Labour Matters and Annex 23 – A for Mexico

On October 1st, 2018, the Governments of the United States, Mexico and Canada reached an agreement as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), generating a new commercial treaty among the three countries. The new trade agreement has not been signed by the parties, neither has it been ratified by the corresponding parliaments, senates or offices. Chapter 23 of the new trade agreement specifies the labour legislations which must be fulfilled by the State Parties. Annex 23 – A of the chapter was included for Mexico, which the Mexican government must comply with in order to be considered a party to the Agreement.

Oct
29
2018

Mexico: The Senate ratified Mexico’s adhesion to Convention 98 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the right of freedom of association and free collective bargaining

(September. 2018) The Senate ratified Mexico’s adhesion to Convention 98 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the right of freedom of association and free collective bargaining. This Convention that is a treaty, will become part of the Mexican legal system due to its binding effects.

From Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention, which are the most relevant, we may highlight:

  • Workers must be absolutely free to join or not to join a union, or quit being affiliated to it, as their job should not be subject to the condition of being affiliated to a union.
  • Therefore, unions will face the challenge of reinventing themselves to convince workers of the free decision to join them.
  • Unions must be free of any interference from employers in their activities, including payment of union dues.
  • Employers shall not organize workers’ unions.
  • Union sponsorship by employers is considered as interference; unions should only be supported by dues from their affiliates.
  • Work conditions must result from collective bargaining agreements.
  • It must be highlighted that this Convention is an international treaty thus, its provisions are binding for the ratifying parties and, according to our Constitution, international treaties are part of our legal system.
  • Finally, due to the ratification of this Convention, the Mexican Labour Law should be modified to eliminate Article 395, which currently rules the Closed Shop Clause upon Admission and a modernization of the current procedure to strike should be undertaken.
Oct
29
2018

Mexico: The US and Canada announced having reached a trade agreement together with Mexico

(October. 2018) The US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, and Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, announced having reached a trade agreement together with Mexico, as part of the renegotiation of what was previously known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

As expected, the trade agreement will include a labour chapter, in terms of which violations to its provisions could have more severe consequences.

Although the definitive and official text of the labour chapter is not yet known, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, through a statement, informed that its purpose is to “Reaffirm the commitments assumed by the Parties within the framework of the 1998 Declaration of the International Labour Organization regarding Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, guaranteeing the effective implementation of fundamental labour rights in the legislation of each Party, and promote transparency in the application of labour legislation”. A statement of shared commitments is also made in relation to the International Labour Organization Declaration on Rights at Work and on Social Justice.

In the USMCA, acronym in English of the new commercial agreement, the content included in the TPP is reproduced, which is in accordance with the constitutional changes that Mexico has carried out. However, the modification of the secondary legislation is pending, which does not have a specific date for its discussion; however, on September 20th, 2018, the Mexican Senate ratified Convention 98 of the International Labour Organization regarding freedom of association and collective bargaining, which is in accordance with the contents of the Chapter included in both the TPP and the USMCA.

Under the new labour obligations accepted in the TPP and in the USMCA, it is necessary for Mexican companies to carry out an analysis of their union strategy, especially those companies that have a “non-active” or protective collective bargaining agreement, due that the new legal framework, once ratified by the Mexican Senate, will imply the immediate fulfilment (“compliance”) of diverse obligations that will have the rank of constitutional disposition.

Sep
24
2018

Mexico: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), Mexico’s elected President, presented the program ‘Young Building the Future’

The emerging, and highly ambitious program, ‘Young Building the Future’, will be implemented starting December 1, 2018. Phase one of this project will pursue the granting of scholarships to 300 thousand young people who have been rejected by public schools and universities, or who do not have economic resources to continue their studies. Phase two consists of training 2 million 300 thousand young people for their first job opportunity as apprentices in different companies established across the country. This means that the government will pay for the training for one year. Also, each youngster will be paid 1.5 the minimum wages, monthly