Mexico: new body tasked with settling labour law disputes becomes operational

The Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registry, the new body responsible for settling labour law disputes, which also functions as a registry for trade unions and collective agreements, is operational throughout Mexico with effect from 3 October. The body is independent from Mexico’s executive branch and replaces the former conciliation and arbitration boards, which will be disbanded. From now on, the conciliation and arbitration processes, as well as the registration of the internal regulations of workplaces, trade unions and collective agreements, will come under the authority of these new councils, which will be set up in each of the country’s 32 states. On 20 September, the Senate ordered the states yet to create such entities – including several bordering the United States, as well as a number of regions that are home to the country’s major industrial hubs, such as Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mérida and the capital, Mexico City – to do so. The transfer of labour law oversight to these councils is the final phase of the implementation of the labour reform passed in Mexico in 2019. The shift should have an impact on the speed of legal proceedings; the law now sets a 45-day deadline for the conciliation stage, which is compulsory in all cases, to serve as a filter for the courts.