The Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, points out that the article 23. 3 of the T-MEC establishes that workers will be protected whether or not they are from the country where they work
Photo: José Méndez / Archivo / EFE
By: EFE
Friday, September 20
Mexico will invoke the T-MEC to guarantee COVID-19 vaccine to migrants in the United States.
Mexico will invoke the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) to guarantee the vaccine against coronavirus to migrant workers who are in the United States, said Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
After versions circulated that migrant workers would be marginalized to receive the vaccine in the United States, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE) affirmed that with the T-MEC exist provisions that safeguard the working conditions of workers, regardless of whether or not they are from the country.
“Is the vaccine a labor right? No, but it is an established right that the worker should not be exposed to contagion. Applying the vaccine is the responsibility of each of the countries “, declared the official during the morning conference.
The Chancellor explained that in the article 23 of the trade agreement, two articles containing provisions regarding labor rights were taken into account, which will ensure that migrant workers are protected in accordance with their labor laws.
He detailed that the article 23. 8, which recognizes the vulnerability of migrant workers with respect to labor regulations, indicates that these must be protected in accordance with labor rights.
While the article 23. 3 points out that each part It will ensure that workers are protected whether or not they are from the country where they work.
Therefore, it asserts ró, it is the responsibility of the two countries to ensure that workers, regardless of their immigration status, have access to the antigen. He indicated that any exclusion of Mexican workers is a violation of the free trade agreement.
He also indicated that as well as unions in the United States have warned that as of 21 of January will be pending compliance with labor legislation in Mexico , the Mexican Government will monitor and, where appropriate, take actions within the framework of the treaty.
In the United States there are about 10. 5 million undocumented immigrants, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Of these, an estimate of 47% are Mexican, which is equivalent to 4.9 million.
Last week, the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo López-Gatell, reported that the Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE) was negotiating with the United States Government and with social organizations so that Mexican migrants in that country could obtain one of the COVID vaccines – 19.
Mexico, which accumulates more than 1.5 million cases and 80, 682 COVID deaths – 19, is one of the first countries to begin vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
However, more than 400, 000 doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech antidote have only been applied to health personnel.
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