Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Terms of Labour Cooperation, to set the basis that shall enable the development of a joint plan to support migratory workers, reported the Mexican Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Under the Temporary Migrant Labour Program, workers from the three Central American countries will be able to work in Mexico for a period up to 180 days in the services and agricultural sectors during specific times of the year in which there is an increase of the demand.

In addition, it enables highly qualified Mexican to work temporarily in the countries mentioned.

The document was signed by the Mexican Minister of Labour, Alfonso Navarrete Prida; the Minister of Labour of El Salvador, Sandra Edibel Guevara; the Secretary of Laboyr of Honduras, Carlos Erazo Madero; and the Deputy Minister of Social Security and Employment of Guatemala, Mina Griselda González.

The witnesses of the event were Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), and Carlos Joaquín González, Governor of the of the Mexican State Quintana Roo.

The mechanism will be started with a pilot test of six months, during which up to one thousand workers per country will have access to Mexico.

Navarrete claimed that the labour migration phenomenon needs a regional solution, and held that the Memorandum of Understanding is a message that seeks to determine mechanisms to approach the issue.

The Secretary General of OAS asked the Governments involved to broaden the benefits of the agreement to the rest of Central America and the continent.

According to Almagro, the document “sets a milestone in labour, social and migratory relationships among the four countries.” He committed to maintain the OAS support in the initiatives that address the problem of migration in origin, transit, and destination countries.

The countries have acknowledged the importance of promoting inclusive labour markets and encouraging the protection of human and labour rights of migrants, regardless their migratory condition”, he pointed out.