NewsLatin AmericaEntrepreneurs want the extension of 12 days of vacation in Mexico to be postponed until 2026

Entrepreneurs want the extension of 12 days of vacation in Mexico to be postponed until 2026

A group of vacationers at a viewpoint in Cancun, in the State of Quintana Roo, on June 9, 2022.Elizabeth Ruiz (Darkroom)

The labor reform that extends vacation days in Mexico from 6 to 12 is in full swing. The opinion was already endorsed with the unanimous support of the senators at the beginning of the month, however, now the business representatives seek to convince the deputies in the San Lazaro Palace of changes on the way in which said increase will be applied on the days of holiday The businessmen propose that the increase in vacations be more staggered, with an increase of nine days in 2023, one more the following year and so on until reaching 12 days in 2026. The businessmen argue that immediately and in a single moment double the days of rest will mean an economic blow for small and medium-sized companies. The president of the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex), Jose Medina Mora, details that it is much more difficult for a micro-enterprise, which has from one to 10 people, to guarantee its operation if an increase in vacations is “suddenly” endorsed .

Although the approval of the initiative was celebrated by both politicians and union leaders, business organizations emphasize the extra costs that this reform will entail for employers. The Business Coordinating Council (CCE) calculates that if the ruling is approved, as it is, labor costs would rise by up to 4%, an increase that will put businessmen on the ropes and reduce competitiveness to attract new investments to Mexican territory. “Duplicating a single-moment concept would be an additional burden for employers already affected by the pandemic and inflation,” says Lorenzo Roel, president of the CCE Labor Commission.

The reform to the Federal Labor Law, approved in the Senate, establishes that employees from the first working year have the right to 12 days of paid vacations. This vacation period will increase by two working days each year, up to 20. The reform proposal also allows workers to enjoy their vacations continuously. On this last point, the business bodies also request a change to the Chamber of Deputies, which only allows employees to request six continuous vacation days and the rest of the rest days are taken individually. Medina Mora specifies that this flexibility guarantees the continuity of the operation.

Mexico is the Latin American country where workers have the fewest vacations, even below Cuba, Nicaragua and Panama, where they have 30 days off. The International Labor Organization (ILO) sets 18 days off, the optimal level of rest. In the statement of reasons for the ruling, the legislators stated that 75% of Mexicans suffer from fatigue due to work stress, surpassing countries like China and the United States, so changing the way work is seen would improve the quality of work. life of citizens.

Roel is not indifferent to the figures that place Mexico in one of the last seats in the table, but warns that these changes must be carried out gradually so as not to bring side effects. “As a sector we agree to increase the days of rest, but we insist that the impact be progressive, not immediately and that this formula of six consecutive days of vacation be allowed and the rest be flexible,” concludes the CCE spokesperson. The changes will be applicable to individual or collective labor contracts in force on the date of entry into force of the decree, which is expected to enter into force as of January 1, 2023.

here to newsletter from EL PAIS Mexico and receive all the key information on current affairs in this country

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Posts

Read More
More