The Guatemalan Chamber of Deputies passed ILO Convention 175, which enables employers to hire part-time employees. The document is to be signed by President Morales, and will take effect after being published in the official journal.

Nevertheless, several representatives consider that those who hire part-time staff could be committing a crime, due to Article 102, subsection G of the Political Constitution of the Republic, which states that “those who, by disposition of the law, customs, or agreement with employers, work less than the established working days, will have the right of being paid the entire weekly salary.”

Certain representatives were keen to elaborate a law on the topic and analyze different aspects of the working assignments.

Guatemala has the chance of developing a regulatory framework that fits the needs of the future of work and that may make its labor market more transparent, dynamic, modern and inclusive.

A great step forward would be ratification of ILO Convention 181 on Private Employment Agencies. This convention provides more transparency to the sector, promotes cooperation between public and private employment services in terms of training and labor intermediation, and guarantees an entrance door to the labor market for young people.