Five Key Takeaways from HR Policy Global’s Inaugural Mexico Labor and Employee Relations Workshop

HR Policy Global held its first virtual workshop on labor and employee relations in Mexico, providing members with the practical tools, strategies, and insights necessary to thrive in Mexico's evolving labor landscape. 

The big picture: In the workshop, speakers and members discussed Mexico's current labor-related legal environment, upcoming legislative proposals affecting workplaces, strategies for employee relations, and methods for crafting a playbook for potential union activities. 

Key points included:

• New labor courts and Federal Consolidation and Registration Center are now managing the country’s labor relations from legislative and administrative perspectives. Even though this is an improvement over the previous system, the process remains slow. A real-time survey from members revealed a lack of confidence in these institutions.
  
  
• Mexico’s upcoming Presidential election in June is causing uncertain approval timelines for proposals such as the working hour reduction bill, Christmas bonus reforms, and the older adults integration bill.  
  
  
• Companies need to develop new labor strategies to adapt to Mexico's evolving labor landscape. These strategies should vary depending on whether your business has an existing relationship with a protection union, has legitimized prior agreements, or is newly union-free.
  
  
• Many member companies are choosing to align with U.S. labor strategies amid Mexico's labor law changes. However, employers need to tread carefully when implementing a union avoidance strategy due to significant differences in workers, culture, and political environment.
  
  
• Developing a playbook for union campaigns along with a comprehensive employee relations strategy is vital in a union-free environment.

Next steps:

• HR Policy Global will release a report next month with legal updates, this session's survey results, and best practice recommendations.
  
  
• Expect an in-person workshop with updated information at our annual LATAM Summit in October.