Mexico will prohibit the subcontracting of day laborers in the avocado and berry industries in order to ensure that companies comply with the trade agreement with the United States and Canada (T-MEC).

In a meeting held in Uruapan, Michoacán, the Secretary of Labor, Luisa María Alcalde, announced that her Secretariat will issue a guideline that will prevent industries from using subcontracted labor for the avocado and berry industries.

Alcalde mentioned that the Mexican Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS), in conjunction with the companies, will work on a regularization process that will allow a level playing field in order to eliminate unfair competition and promote respect for individual and collective rights.

“A guide will be issued with specific criteria for the avocado and berry export industry: the first of these is the prohibition of subcontracting workers for essential activities for the companies,” said the secretary.

“In the second criterion, it is considered that the activity of picking the fruit is not specialized, therefore, the hiring of agricultural day laborers through intermediary companies is not allowed,” added Alcalde.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, commented: “Guaranteeing formal employment is necessary for companies to comply with the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, as well as to settle a historical debt with day laborers”.

At the same time, the governor urged Michoacan avocado producers and packers to comply with the provisions of the Federal Labor Law and thus comply with the provisions of the Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC).

On the other hand, the Secretariat informed that there may indeed be companies that operate as employment agencies, and they may also participate in the recruitment, selection, training and training processes, as long as they are not considered employers.

Sources: Fresh Fruit Portal y Axis Negocios