Mexico: Fox’s Labor Reform Proposal Would Deal Serious Blow to Workers’ Rights

Mexico: Fox’s Labor Reform Proposal Would Deal Serious Blow to Workers’ Rights
Human Rights Watch

The Abascal Project not only fails to remedy key shortcomings in Mexican labor law, but it weakens existing protections. In doing so, the proposal also violates Mexico’s obligations under international law to protect and promote workers’ human rights. The proposed changes would make it virtually impossible for most workers to exercise their rights to strike, bargain collectively, and join a union of their choosing. The proposal also fails to provide sufficient protections for workers facing pregnancy-based discrimination in hiring.

Additionally, the Abascal Project ignores important recommendations in the 2003 report on Mexico from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights; key principles of Mexico’s National Human Rights Program, launched by President Vicente Fox in December 2004; and commitments made in a May 2000 ministerial agreement between the United States and Mexico during proceedings under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC), the labor side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).