1. Government reaches agreement on outsourcing

The federal government, the private sector and labor unions reached an agreement to continue with a reform specific to labor outsourcing. The agreement contemplates, among other items, that outsourcing may be used for specialized work, in addition to providing for the payment of profits at a maximum of 90 days’ salary.

Despite the agreements reached, the joint commissions of Labor and Finance of the Chamber of Deputies postponed the discussion and vote on the reforms until further notice, stating that they are seeking to fine-tune the details of the amendments to the Federal Labor Law, the IMSS Law and the Infonavit Law, among others.

El Economista: Gobierno, empresas y sindicatos acuerdan poner límites al outsourcing
Milenio: Aplazan en comisiones discusión en outsourcing

2. Changes announced at Conagua

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the departure of Blanca Jiménez as General Director of the National Water Commission (Conagua) and indicated that she will be presented to the Mexican Senate as a nominee for Mexico’s next ambassador to France. He also appointed Germán Martínez Santoyo as the new head of the agency.

It should be recalled that during her 28 months at the head of the Conagua, the former director faced the discontent of the population of Chihuahua due to the water supply cuts that the state experienced so that the country could comply with the water treaty signed with the United States in 1944. This brings the total number of changes in the legal and expanded cabinet of the current administration to 25.

Expansión: Blanca Jiménez dejará la Conagua y será propuesta como embajadora en Francia

3. Mexico and the United States discuss key issues

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador held a call with the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, to discuss policies to address migration problems, concentrated primarily on the fight against human trafficking and the protection of human rights.

On the other hand, the U.S. State Department reported that Mexico was its main trading partner during February, at an amount of USD $48.5 billion, representing an increase in its share of 15.3%.

Animal Político: AMLO ofrece a Kamala Harris cooperar en tema migratorio y evitar tráfico de personas.
El Economista: México volvió a ser el primer socio comercial de EE. UU. en febrero

4. Tax service reports increase in tax collection on digital economy

The Mexican Tax Administration System (SAT) presented its Tax and Service Management Report 2020, in which they reported an increase in tax collection of 642% across the platforms that make up the digital economy in Mexico, representing an amount of more than MXN $6.3 billion (USD $312.47 million).

On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance presented its projections to determine economic policy in 2022, which shows a programmed expenditure for the provision of goods and services to society of MXN $141.63 billion (USD $7.02 billion), of which 70.3% would be allocated to pensions for senior citizen.

Forbes: Crecen 642% los ingresos del físico por la economía digital en México.
Excélsior: A los viejitos, el grueso del alza a presupuesto; Precriterios 2022 de Hacienda.

5. Campaigns for the 2021 elections underway

According to the calendar established by the National Electoral Institute (INE) for the 2021 electoral process, last Sunday, 4th April, the electoral campaigns for the composition of the LXV Legislature of the Chamber of Deputies began, as well as the renewal of 15 governorships in the country. In this electoral process, the voting for approximately 21,000 publicly elected positions is expected – the largest electoral process in the history of the country.

The Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation (TEPJF) announced measures regarding President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s press conferences during the electoral period. According to the court, the president and public officials must refrain from commenting on the achievements of the government, present advances in public works, as well as maintain a neutral posture in order to generate an equitable electoral scene.

El Financiero: Así iniciaron las campañas electorales en todo el país (las más atípicas de la historia).
El Financiero: AMLO no podrá presumir sus logros en las mañaneras durante campañas: Tribunal Electoral.