Mexico passes key labour law

(Vatican Radio) Mexico has passed a key labour law, which heralds significant changes to work practises. The bill was originally proposed by President Felipe Calderon, who's a member of the right of center National Action Party PAN. It's been stalled in Congress for years. But with the incoming Presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto in less than a month, the Institutional Revolutionary Party the PRI has agreed to a diluted version, and removed the political brakes. It was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and now the Senate.
With a young and growing population, Mexico needs to create a million jobs every year. This bill will go part of the way towards achieving that. The legislation will shorten labor disputes principally strikes, which often cripple companies and paralyse downtown Mexico City with clogging marches The process of hiring and firing will be shortened and simplified, while outsourcing which has been a fact of life for years will be formalized.
The reform doesn't include clauses to oblige unions to become more accountable and modernize their practises, which is being seen as a major shortfall.
Part of the aim is to decrease the informal economy which permiates most aspects of Mexican working life, but yields zero tax returns. Listen to this report by James Blears