MAY 2013

• Legal Updates

  Employment Law – Termination of Employment Relationships (First Part)

  Based on Mexico's labor laws, any employer that seeks to terminate personnel should be careful with the implementation of the appropriate documentation, from the point of hiring personnel until termination of the employment relationship. Otherwise, the employer may have trouble terminating the employment relationships, given that Mexican labor law protects employee rights, irrespective of whether employees are of Mexican or foreign nationality. As a fundamental principle, Mexican labor law establishes... [Read More]

• Digital Television. Modifications to Mexican Official Standards with Respect to Commercial Information for Electronic, Electric and Home Appliance Products

  On April 23, 2013, the Mexican Department of the Economy published in the Official Journal of the Federation the "DRAFT of Mexican Official Standard PROY-NOM-024-SCFI-2013, commercial information for packaging, instructions and warranties for electronic, electric and home appliance products." Its purpose is to make the contents of the Draft known so that all interested parties may submit comments to the draft within 60 calendar days following its publication, pursuant to the methods indicated... [Read More]

• The Hiring of Independent Contractors on a Commission Basis or Commercial Agents in Mexico by Foreign Companies

  The hiring of independent commissioned contractors or those known as commercial agents in Mexico is an issue that must be analyzed very carefully by companies interested in entering into such arrangements, even if these companies are foreign. Parties seeking to hire independent commissioned contractors to carry out certain economic activities in Mexico, or who already use such, should take into account different aspects of Mexican law to avoid falling into situations that can lead to obligations... [Read More]

• Recent Jurisprudence: Personal Notifications in Labor Legal Proceedings

  The Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) recently approved the ruling by contradiction to ruling number 2a./J. 53/2013 (10a.) titled "Personal Notifications in Labor Legal Proceedings shall be given directly to the interested person or the authorized person." In this ruling, the SCJN determined that based on a literal interpretation of Article 744 of the Federal Labor Law, it is understood that personal notifications shall be given to the interested person... [Read More]

• Economic Indicators

  The following are economic indicators as of May 28, 2013:

  Peso/Dollar Exchange Rate: $12.5275 pesos per dollar.

  Mexican Stock Exchange: The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) closed at 40,764.04 points.

  Interest Rates: The Average Interbank Interest Rate (TIIE) for a 28-day period was at 4.3075%.

   

• The Pact for Mexico, Second Chapter

  One of the initiatives of the new Mexican government has been the execution of a pact among the political forces of the three major political parties, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the National Action Party (PAN) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). The so-called "Pact for Mexico" (Pacto por México) was off to a good start and set out to address long awaited structural reforms for the country. Everything was running smoothly until the PAN made a claim... [Read More]

• Political Thermometer

  U.S. President Barack Obama's recent visit to Mexico had Mexican politics on high alert. While the purpose of this meeting was to discuss international political issues, political groups used this as an opportunity to take a stand on issues, to make their presence known and to try to destabilize the current political order. The latter case occurred in the State of Guerrero where a group of dissident teachers, unaffiliated with political parties, sparked riots and violence that has been unanimously... [Read More]

• 300 PALABRAS - President Barack Obama Visits Mexico

  Barack Obama's long awaited visit to Mexico met expectations. The logistics of the meeting, which were the responsibility of the Mexican President's office, the Mexican Federal Police and the United States Secret Service, were impeccable. Even though some people complained of the inconvenience of closed streets and the 30 minute closure of the airport, such problems were offset by the success of the meeting. There was anticipation as to whether the meeting would address difficult issues that... [Read More]

• PRACTIQUE LEGAL - The General Applicability (Erga Omnes) of Certain Case Decisions Issued by Mexican Federal Courts as a Result of Mexico’s New Amparo Law (Ley de Amparo).

  Mexico's new Amparo Law (Ley de Amparo) was published and entered into force during the month of April, 2013, establishing new legal concepts such as the general application of some case decisions issued by federal courts in which such courts decide to reaffirm the unconstitutionality of a law or generally observed legal provision. Such case decisions reaffirming the unconstitutionality of a law are defined as "General Declarations of Unconstitutionality.. The effect of general application... [Read More]