Background on Concanaco and its Relevance
The National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur) represents a crucial sector in Mexico, encompassing commerce, services, and tourism. These industries are vital for the country’s economy, employing millions and contributing significantly to GDP. Rosa Elena García Hidalgo, the treasurer general of Concanaco-Servytur, speaks on behalf of these businesses to address concerns regarding proposed work hour reductions.
Productivity Concerns with Shorter Workday
Key Point: Concanaco asserts that productivity in the service sector is not solely dependent on hours worked but rather on the time businesses can remain open to the public.
García Hidalgo explained in an interview with El Economista that reducing work hours does not automatically improve performance for service-based industries. Instead, these businesses rely on factors like customer traffic and extended operating hours to generate growth, maintain profitability, and ensure employee wages.
“It’s not about making the hours more productive; it depends on having the public come in and keeping your doors open,” she emphasized, using a restaurant as an example.
Gradual Reduction and Sector-Specific Recommendations
Concanaco supports a gradual reduction of work hours, in line with the International Labour Organization’s recommendations. This approach should be sector-specific and consider each country’s unique conditions.
García Hidalgo highlighted the need for tailored public policies to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) amidst extensive regulations. This would prevent new ventures from being overwhelmed by excessive rules.
Awaiting Normative Guidelines from STPS
Concanaco is currently waiting for the Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) to issue normative guidelines within the next 30 days regarding the Ley Silla (Rest Law).
The Ley Silla addresses rest periods, but specifics—such as whether they will be two or three periods and their duration (30, 15, or 10 minutes)—remain unclear. Businesses need these details to make necessary internal adjustments and comply with inspections.
Once the guidelines are established, Concanaco will collaborate directly with workers to determine rest periods that accommodate both employee preferences and business needs.
Capitalizing on Changes for Efficiency
García Hidalgo stressed the importance of adapting to these changes to maintain efficiency in scheduling and breaks without negatively impacting customer service.
“We need to ensure that rollouts are efficient, and waitstaff aim to serve more tables to boost tips,” she explained. “Concanaco will negotiate with unions and workers to ensure that these rest periods benefit both parties while adhering to the established regulations.”
Penalties for Non-Compliance with Ley Silla
According to the Federal Labor Law, penalties for non-compliance with Ley Silla range from 28,285 to 282,850 pesos (250 to 2,500 times the Unit of Measure and Update).
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Concanaco? The National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur) is a vital organization representing industries crucial to Mexico’s economy, including commerce, services, and tourism.
- Why is Concanaco concerned about the proposed work hour reductions? Concanaco believes that productivity in service-based industries is not solely dependent on hours worked but rather on the time businesses can remain open to the public.
- What are Concanaco’s recommendations for implementing work hour reductions? Concanaco supports a gradual reduction of work hours, tailored to each sector’s unique conditions and supported by tailored public policies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
- What is the status of Ley Silla guidelines from STPS? Concanaco is awaiting normative guidelines from the Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) to make necessary internal adjustments and ensure compliance with inspections.
- How will Concanaco handle rest periods determined by Ley Silla? Once guidelines are established, Concanaco will collaborate directly with workers to determine rest periods that accommodate both employee preferences and business needs.
