At FIDA Cameroon, our women’s rights program seeks to empower women to break the cycle of oppression and to actively participate in their economic and social development. We often find that when women have a real grasp of their legal rights, they are in a better position to demand them.
In an increasingly globalized world, understanding the laws of other countries can empower women in this regard. For example, knowing mexico employment laws can be used as a basis to support women who are being denied their rights within the country. The following article by FIDA Cameroon’s leader, Marceline Fanlong is a solid place to start that process and seek to empower women globally: “If you are familiar with the labor norms and demands at your workplace, it can prevent you from being taken for granted. For example, when your employer fails to pay the wages for overtime or discontinues the employment contract without warning you, you will understand that you will be entitled to financial compensation if the laws of your country are protective and enforced. Understanding the employment laws within a country is also a handy tool when one observes that the employment rights of workers are not respected. It will be easy to bridge the gap by seeking a redress before domestic courts or even through international action by some other means. The article below provides an in-depth understanding of the employment laws of the Republic of Mexico; I will try to use this opportunity to reiterate their importance and establish a connection between the provisions of these laws and women empowerment.
The employment law of Mexico is found in the labor code. At the start, it is essential to highlight a few of the provisions that protect workers’ rights in Mexico:
- Each work contract must contain the name and the description of the role and responsibilities of each employed worker.
- The working hours should be stipulated, failing which, the working hours should not exceed 48 hours per week.
- The monetary compensation agreed should be paid weekly or biweekly.
- A copy of the payment receipt should be handed to the employee by the employer.
- The employers should not demand their workers to work over 8 hours every day, and more than 48 hours/week as there is a premium salary for work outside normal hours.
Notable employment laws in Mexico that promote women’s rights are:
- Mexican labor law stipulates a period of 12 weeks for maternity leave (six weeks before and six weeks after the delivery). During this time, the employer should continue to pay the employee her last salary amount.
- At the end of each year, employees in Mexico are entitled to receive a Christmas bonus of at least 15 days of the employee’s daily wages.
- Employment termination: when a worker wishes to discontinue any employment, the notice period to be given depends on the duration of the employment. If an employment contract lasts less than one year, the notice period is 30 days; if a year or up to 10 years, the notice period is 60 days; and more than 10 years, the notice period is 90 days.
Why understanding the employment laws of another country is important? Understanding the employment laws of another country offers a chance to detect any violations of those laws. The understanding can also offer a chance to redistribute wealth among persons. It is financially empowering for a person who is given a payment that conforms to the provisions of the employment laws especially when compared to an employee who may have worked the same hours and completed the same responsibilities but is not paid his/her due share. Moreover, a worker who earns less than his/her counterparts can make a comparison to seek a redress. The environment created by understanding the employment laws is also directly beneficial to women, especially because businesses (could) exploit women employees more.
The connection between legal education and empowerment of women and girl Knowing about the laws that govern employment in a given country means knowing something about the way that country expects its businesses to be run and the obligations that employees may demand. This is an empowering situation. Most importantly, women with access to the law have been able to stand up for their rights and have achieved success in some instances. Success has not been limited to women who have worked in the employment sector. According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), now called UNWomen, female employment is considered one of the most efficient ways to reduce poverty. Improved women’s rights in the economic sector and more generally, has been linked to increasing post-employment opportunities, allowing women to access financial resources to invest in their families’ health, nutrition and education. Again, education seems to be the key to empowerment in this regard.
The role of advocacy in establishing the protection of workers’ rights While many countries have legal provisions that promote the rights of women, little action is taken by the governments to uphold these rights. The actions of UN Women and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in empowering women to achieve their economic rights has been remarkable. For instance, the UN has founded the UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality to support women’s movements for social change through grants, action-based research, advocacy and knowledge-sharing. It provides funding to support policy changes, action planning, accountability and capacity building regarding the rules, practices and norms that engender discrimination. Legal action has been taken by the UN Women and Good News International, L.C to establish the human right to decent work for all. A recent example is the latest court decision in Columbus Regional International Airport. They argued in favor of individuals who are found to work in horrid conditions of employment and face overwhelming obstacles to achieving their most elementary rights. Their claims became legal precedents that would make the law enforceable for all. This is clear evidence of the role that advocacy can play in promoting the rights of women and the rights of workers in general.
Conclusion A solution may not be far-fetched, given recent innovations that allow real-time, remote access to the legal provisions in a country. For example, the legal empowerment movement that was championed by Esbon Ng’atia Musyoka and others paved the way for online access to legal and other information that can empower women. This approach, if adopted effectively, could help to create awareness and educate women in their local language about the value of these laws and how to enforce them. By demanding basic labor rights and advocating access to such rights, the voices of women can become a reality worldwide and society will once again return to the state of harmony that existed in the beginning.
For more information on labor laws, you can visit Wikipedia’s Labor Law page.