THIS IS THE START OF A NEW STAGE OF WORKERS, EMPLOYERS AND THE AUTHORITIES JOINING FORCES: EPN
As part of the commemoration of Labor Day, President Enrique Peña Nieto urged society to turn this May 1 into “The beginning of a new stage of synergies between workers, employers and authorities,” because, “It is time for all production factors to close ranks and contribute to the greatness of our country.”
Addressing representatives of the workers and employers sectors, gathered in the Adolfo López Mateos Hall of the official residence of Los Pinos, President Peña Nieto expressed his satisfaction at participating in a meeting, “Which brings together production factors, the engine of Mexico’s economy, the engine of development in a harmonious atmosphere, in a climate of civility, political maturity where everyone shares the same spirit of wanting to help Mexico move, transform and advance along the path of development, growth, opportunities for workers and growth opportunities for all those with an entrepreneurial spirit.
He expressed his congratulations and appreciation to the workers, “For maintaining this spirit of cooperation and civility, and above all wanting to serve the highest purpose Mexicans have today: create a climate of peace and prosperity for the development of the nation.”
No doubt, he added, “This is a different way, as we want Mexico to be, of commemorating International Labor Day.”
The President said that the government is an ally in ensuring respect for and protection of workers’ rights and in promoting the creation of new and better sources of employment.
He noted that currently three out of every five jobs in Mexico are informal; in other words, 60 percent of the country’s workers do not have the protection of the legal and institutional framework. Suffice it to say, he added, “That those working in the formal sector earn 44 percent more on average than those in the informal sector.”
Therefore, President Peña Nieto stressed that, “We are guiding the state’s efforts towards creating formal jobs and facilitating the transition to formal employment. Formal employment should be the face of the more productive, more competitive Mexico we all want.”
He said the government is promoting a labor policy based on four lines of action: The first is the promotion of the creation of formal quality jobs. Within this line of action, he explained that the financial reform to be presented in coming days, “It will contribute to growth and job generation,” while the Tax Reform bill to be submitted this year seeks to encourage formality.
The second line of action is to democratize productivity, and as part of this, over the new few days, the government will set up a National Productivity Committee, a tripartite advisory body that will help the president and the productive sector with decision-making in order to facilitate its development.
The third line of action is to safeguard the rights of workers. Yesterday, the Official Gazette published a decree that fosters the joint responsibility of employers to ensure the best health and safety conditions in the workplace by encouraging self-evaluation and submitting reports on the Internet.
The fourth line of action is to maintain industrial peace. “Productivity and competitiveness will be achieved in full harmony with workers’ fundamental rights. In that way, we will keep the paths of peace and labor harmony open,” he said.