Strengthening Conciliation to Enhance Resolution of Labor Disputes in Mexico

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor, announces the availability of $10 million to fund one technical assistance project in Mexico to increase the effectiveness of the conciliation mechanisms established by the 2019 Labor Law Reform to prevent and resolve labor disputes. The constitutional reforms focused on transforming Mexico's labor justice system by increasing transparency and impartiality to better protect freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The reforms transferred the responsibility for adjudicating labor disputes from Conciliation and Arbitration Boards to new labor courts at the federal level and local labor courts with state-level jurisdiction and specialized labor judges. In support of this objective, the project will aim to achieve the following outcomes: • Outcome 1: Government conciliation institutions operate effectively and efficiently in accordance with the 2019 labor law reform. • Outcome 2: Increased use of conciliation mechanisms to prevent and resolve labor disputes in accordance with the 2019 labor law reform. The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4.5 years (54 months) from the effective date of the award. Eligible applicants may include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs), capable of successfully fulfilling the objectives identified in this announcement.