May 9, 2011

Thanks to strong national and international opposition, proposed labour law reforms that would severely erode workers' rights in Mexico have been delayed. The independent trade union movement in Mexico was concerned the 'reforms' would go before the Mexican Congress last month but shortly before adjourning for the Easter break the government announced that a "consultation" period has been extended through May.

News of the proposed regressive reforms came just weeks after unions from more than 40 countries participated in a week of rallies, marches and meetings with Mexican embassy officials organized to shine a light on the Mexican government's failure to uphold international commitments to respect basic labour rights and worker protections.

The reforms, amongst other things, encourage even more precarious work arrangements, uphold the use of "protection contracts" and enable further weakening of unions and denial of legal entitlements through the use of outsourcing, subcontracting, and temporary contracts for young workers.

• Read more about the proposed reforms on the International Metalworkers Federation website and on the Mexican Labor News & Analysis page of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).
• Read "A Labor Law Bosses Would Love" by David Bacon, In These Times

• Read a critique of the reforms by Mexican labour lawyer Arturo Alcalde

• Read a letter to the Mexican government from United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard