Mexico Changes Labor Laws First in 40 Years

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/11/14/mexico-labor/1704479/

For decades Mexico has suffered from unjust labor laws or from lack of labor laws. The use of freelance workers is common in Mexico meaning workers have multiple jobs because they do not receive fair wages so they have to have multiple jobs. People in Mexico also struggle to find steady jobs. "It's really hard to get yourself established," says León, who was fortunate enough recently to find a formal job with full benefits. An overhaul of the country's labor laws passed Tuesday by the Mexican congress may be the first step toward strengthening the formal economy. Mexico's outgoing president, Felipe Calderón, says the measure will promote job creation and improve working conditions in a country where approximately 30% of the population works in the informal economy. Changes to labor laws in Mexico haven’t occurred for over 40 years. These changes include: legal constraints on a company's ability to hire and fire, lift a ban on part-time employment, allow probationary periods for new hires and cap the amount of money a company must pay to laid-off workers. They also limit a company's ability to hire freelance workers as a way to get around the strict labor laws. Left-wing lawmakers opposed the changes, arguing they would weaken worker rights and protect powerful union bosses who often lead lavish lifestyles. These left-wing lawmakers also tried to add an article to the law so that workers would have to get approval from their bosses before going on strike and or forming a union. "Many young people and women cannot find work because of a ban on part-time employment," says César Velázquez Guadarrama, professor of public policy at the Iberoamerican University.

Opinion:

Changes to labor laws for Mexico is a great advancement for their economy because the people will be more willing to work in their country if they have more rights verse fleeting to America for work and opportunity. For more than forty years the people of Mexico have been suffering from unfair wages, lack of opportunity for a steady job, and lack of their rights. This shows that Mexico is a developing country and is behind the United States labor wise. I am happy to hear that Mexico is making change and working towards justice for their people. The main reason so many Mexicans migrate to the United States is because they do not have labor rights or very much choice of opportunity. The people of Mexico and all over the world deserve the right to labor laws that consist of fair and consistent wages, ability to move up in position within a company, and the right to voice the issues they are dealing with from mistreatment at work. I believe that labor lays for Mexico will spark a growth in their economy because it will allow workers access to more opportunities. When workers have a sense of security with their carrier they live more comfortable and spend more money which will benefit their economy. Also more workers will remain in Mexico because of it which would also be great news for the United States. Change is much needed for Mexico and laws that give people their human rights is the first step to growth within a country.