Versión Español
EspañolOfficials in the United States have been adamant that Mexico improve its labor laws during negotiations to restructure the North American Free Trade Agreement, but it doesn’t appear that labor regulations will be part of those discussions.
President of Mexico’s Local Conciliation and Arbitration Board Darlene Rojas said that putting pressure on the country to accelerate labor reform won’t actually make it happen.
Per conditions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Mexico is dissolving its Conciliation Board to make room for the courts, which will take on the responsibility of reforming labor laws. Nothing that occurs during NAFTA’s renegotiation, Rojas said, can interfere with or attempt to speed up that transition.
Rojas said that Mexico shouldn’t succumb to pressure from the United States.
“Our priority should be a new model of justice where the procedures are expeditious for Mexicans and good for foreigners as well,” Rojas said, adding that the United States can always share its ideas or suggestions — similar to what it did with Chile and Argentina while those countries were reforming their criminal justice systems.
According to Rojas, the transition to labor courts in Mexico City requires a budget of US $60 million for 2018, which is three times greater than what the board currently has. That figure also doesn’t include the resources required for decentralizing the board and registration centers for unions.
“What we are proposing is that in this gradual process, a minimum number of courts be established that give attention to following through on labor reform,” Rojas said.
Fuente: El Financiero
