Supporting Freedom of Association in Mexico

Mexico Enters New Era of Labour Relations

Oct 9, 2019 —

With the passage of long-awaited reforms to Mexico’s Federal Labour Law on April 29, 2019, the country has entered a new era of labour relations.

MSN’s first in a series of reports on the implementation of Mexico’s ambitious labour justice reforms summarizes the process for authentication of existing collective bargaining agreements, describes some of the challenges in the implementation of the reform, and provides a timeline of the road ahead.

Workers cheated out of severance as Rintex closes factory

Feb 19, 2019 —

Workers and supporters protesting unjust dismissals, 2018

Three years after worker rights violations were first reported by labour rights advocates to Gap and other brand buyers, their Morelos-based supplier closed the factory rather than reinstate workers fired who had been attempting to form an independent union. The last remaining workers were dismissed in December 2018. 

Will proposed bill undermine Mexico’s labour justice reform? (December 2017)

Dec 20, 2017 —

On December 7, two senators from Mexico’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) submitted a bill to the Senate that, if approved, would undermine, if not nullify, the most important advances in the country’s Constitutional Reform to the labour justice system that became law only 10 months earlier.

Murders at Canadian mine expose lack of labour rights in Mexico (November 2017)

Nov 28, 2017 —

Striking workers (Photo: IndustriALL)

The assassination of two brothers, Victor and Marcelino Shaunitla Peña, has shone a spotlight on Mexico’s corrupt and anti-democratic labour relations system. The brothers were participating in a work stoppage by mineworkers with the support of community members against the Canadian-owned Media Luna gold mine in Azcala, Guerrero. The murders happened just as NAFTA negotiations were resuming in Mexico City.

Eight brands release joint letter to Mexican government supporting freedom of association

Oct 9, 2015 —

On September 22, eight international apparel brands released a joint letter to the Mexican government expressing their support for the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) request that Mexico make further reforms to its Federal Labour Law to ensure respect for workers’ right to freedom of association and to bargain collectively.

Signatories to the joint letter include: adidas Group, American Eagle Outfitters, New Balance, Nike, Patagonia, Puma, PVH, and The Walt Disney Company.