Background on the Mexican Official Involved
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is the current head of government in Mexico City, serving as the Head of Government since 2018. As a prominent politician and activist, she has been instrumental in addressing labor issues within Mexico. Her recent focus includes strengthening labor reforms and combating work-related challenges, making her relevant to this topic.
Details of the Canceled Programs
In March 2025, the United States government terminated 21 technical assistance programs in Mexico that aimed to eradicate child labor and strengthen the implementation of the 2019 labor reform. These projects, supported by civil organizations and international bodies, focused on critical areas such as combating child and forced labor, improving workplace safety and health, and reinforcing collective rights established by the 2019 labor reform.
Financial Investment and Program Focus
From 2019 until their cancellation in March 2025, these technical assistance programs totaled $207 million, dedicated to supporting the Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) initiatives in these areas.
Recent Activities Under the Projects
- Diplomado Launch: On February 4, 2025, the STPS participated in the launch of a diplomado titled “Mechanisms and Tools for the Prevention, Attention, and Combat of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking,” imparted by the Universidad de Chiapas and supported by the “AccioNNAr” project.
- Experience Exchange with Honduras: On March 20, 2025, the STPS shared experiences with Honduras’s National Commission for Gradual and Progressive Eradication of Child Labor regarding the prevention and eradication of child labor.
- Intersecretarial Table with SRE: On November 7, 2024, the STPS coordinated the Second Intersecretarial Table with the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) to establish interinstitutional consensus on labor-related matters, migration programs, and a mechanism for wage return for migrant workers.
- Meeting with Civil Society Organizations on T-MEC: On November 14, 2024, the STPS met with various civil society organizations requesting their participation in reviewing the Mexico-United States-Canada Agreement (T-MEC).
- Meeting with CAAAREM on Labor Inspections in the US: On December 19, 2024, the STPS met with the Confederation of Customs Agents Associations of the Mexican Republic (CAAAREM) to discuss labor inspections conducted by US authorities in warehouses of Mexican customs agents in the United States.
Implications of Cancellation
The STPS views the cancellation as a significant shift in labor cooperation between the two countries, raising concerns about the future of these crucial initiatives.
Key Questions and Answers
- What were the canceled programs about? The 21 technical assistance programs aimed to eradicate child labor and strengthen the implementation of Mexico’s 2019 labor reform, focusing on critical areas like combating child and forced labor, improving workplace safety and health, and reinforcing collective rights.
- Who were the programs supported by? These projects were backed by civil organizations and international bodies in Mexico.
- What was the financial investment in these programs? The United States committed a total of $207 million to support these initiatives from 2019 until their cancellation in March 2025.
- What recent activities were conducted under these projects? Recent activities included launching a diplomado on combating child and forced labor, sharing experiences with Honduras, coordinating intersecretarial tables with SRE, meeting civil society organizations regarding T-MEC, and discussing labor inspections in the US with CAAAREM.
- How does STPS view the cancellation of these programs? The STPS considers this cancellation a significant change in labor cooperation between the US and Mexico, expressing concerns about the future of these vital initiatives.
