Corporate labour standards and work quality: insights from the agro-export sector of Guanajuato, Central Mexico

Figures & data

Figure 1. Labourers planting lettuce (photo by the authors).

Table 1. Labour standards of different employers in the agro-export sector of Northern Guanajuato (authors’ own elaboration).

	The Company	Farm 1	Farm 2	Farm 3	Farm 4	Farm 5
Minimum salary/day, in pesos^a	150	150	140	130	140	210
Premium overtime^b	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Social security^b	Yes	No	Some	No	No	Yes
Paid vacation and holidays^d	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Christmas bonus^e	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Profit-sharing bonus^f	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes

^aIn 2016 the minimum salary was established at 73 pesos (US$3.88) per day.

^bThe first nine hours of overtime should be paid with a premium of 100%, and for the subsequent hours employees must receive a premium of 200% (Article 66–68).

^cThe Social Security Law (Ley del Seguro Social) of 1997 states that social security is mandatory for all employees (permanent or temporary).

^dPaid vacation: After at least one year of service with the employer, employees have the right to a paid vacation of at least six days; based on the seniority of the employee this period increases each year by two days (Article 76). Mandatory holidays: Eight days of the year are considered mandatory holidays, including New Year’s Day, Constitution Day, Christmas Day, etc. (Article 74).

^eAll employees have the right to an annual Christmas bonus (aguinaldo). This should be equivalent to at least 15 days of salary (Article 87).

^fEmployees are entitled to a share in the company’s profits; this share is currently fixed at 10% of the company’s taxable income (Article 112). The division of the profit over all employees is based on the number of days worked (Article 123). This profit-sharing bonus (utilidades) is normally paid in May.