Background on the Institutional Change
The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) was officially dissolved on October 16, as legal conditions were updated for its termination. The Senate of the Republic ratified commissioners proposed by the Presidency, and subsequently, Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum appointed the commissioner-president of the new Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), an organ under the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT) that took over IFT’s functions.
The Impacted Workforce
A group of 133 contract workers from the IFT now face labor uncertainty, as they have not been rightfully compensated. These workers served at various middle-management levels and were part of the IFT since its inception in 2013. Their patience and dedication to the Mexican state have left them in limbo due to the lack of proper severance pay.
Current Situation and Efforts
The contract workers have approached the new authorities at ATDT and CRT, who have shown openness to dialogue. However, as these authorities are still settling into their roles, they are in the process of securing necessary resources from the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP) to compensate the workers.
In addition to dialogue, the contract workers formally presented a written memo outlining constitutional and legal arguments supporting their claim for severance pay. They are now awaiting the proper processing of this memo so that ATDT and CRT can request the required funds from SHCP to compensate them.
Prior to ATDT and CRT taking office, the contract workers had submitted a written request for severance pay to IFT authorities. Unfortunately, this request was disregarded, leaving the issue for the new authorities to address.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the contract workers facing issues? The 133 contract workers who served at various middle-management levels within the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) since 2013.
- Why are they facing issues? These workers have not been rightfully compensated following the IFT’s dissolution, leaving them in labor uncertainty.
- What have the workers done to address the issue? They have approached new ATDT and CRT authorities, presented a formal memo with constitutional and legal arguments, and await the proper processing of their request for severance pay.
- What is the role of ATDT and CRT in resolving this issue? ATDT and CRT are currently securing resources from SHCP to compensate the workers and will process the formal request submitted by the contract workers.
