Yolanda Díaz and her Mexican counterpart call for a labour international that expands labour rights

Meeting between the Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and her Mexican counterpart, the Secretary for Labour and Social Security, Marath Baruch Bolaños

Díaz and Bolaños discussed measures such as the increase in the minimum wage and the plan to reduce the working day. "Mexico is an ally in the construction of a labour international", the vice-president assured. "We share the will to protect the working people of our countries. Both countries have carried out very ambitious labour reforms and increases in the minimum wage", stressed the minister, who also valued highly the transformation of the workers' representation model, as well as the efforts to incorporate the gender perspective.

The minister analysed with her counterpart the employment programmes for young people and the progress in bilateral cooperation, with the development of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 through technical assistance in the field of collective bargaining and freedom of association, and the Labour Inspectorate.

Mexico also supports the Ibero-American Networks of Labour Inspections and Public Employment Services, as well as the first United Nations General Assembly (UN) resolution to promote the Social Economy, promoted by Spain.

Support for this economic model, of which Spain is an international benchmark, was materialised with the launch last Monday in Mexico City of the Iberoamerican Network for the Promotion of the Social Economy, which already has the support of several Ibero-American nations, and with the promotion of the Global Charter of Labour Rights, an initiative to protect basic principles at a global level in the world of work before the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which already has the support of several Ibero-American countries.

Díaz pointed out that Mexico and Spain can be allies in constructing a labour international that puts the rights of working people above the interests of those who have always enjoyed privileges. "It is more important than ever that those of us who are on the side of democracy, labour rights and social justice join forces," the minister reiterated.

This bilateral meeting concludes an official visit that began with the launch of the Ibero-American Network for the Promotion of the Social Economy last Monday, and included working meetings with the Colombian Minister, Gloria Inés Ramírez, among others.

The vice president also held a private meeting with Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and a brief meeting with the Minister for Culture, Secretary of Culture Alejandra Frausto.

Prior to the meeting with her counterpart Bolaños, Díaz took part in a debate at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) on labour human rights in a changing world, which addressed the challenges faced by workers with the advance of digitalisation and the climate crisis.

Diaz advocated putting digitalisation at the service of working people and promoting trade union participation in the regulation and evaluation of algorithms that affect the world of work. "Expanding labour rights is the best mechanism to face contemporary challenges," insisted the minister, who believes that the rights of working people should be defended at home and abroad. "We have to address global challenges with global responses and global coalitions," she stressed.

Non official translation