Wednesday, October 25th, and Thursday, October 26th, the analysis forum “Young People in the National Primary Sector” took place, an event organized and promoted by Senator Nancy Sanchez Arredondo, the President of the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Rural Development Commission. The event was held at the Senate of the Republic in Mexico City.  

The forum’s purpose was to provide a platform for analyzing, discussing, and formulating proposals on the challenges young Mexicans face to formally joining the labor market in the national primary sector (agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry).  The final goal was to submit the proposals that emerged from the meeting to the consultation of the NOM-038-STPS-2023 project. As a reference, the Reform to the Federal Labor Law of 2014 prohibited the participation of minors under 18 years of age (16 to 17 years old) in primary activities. The consequences of this generated a transformation in the social fabric of families and rural communities as they had legal restrictions to formally participate in economic activities in support of their families.

This is why Senator Sanchez Arredondo provided this forum for reflection to which she invited national farmers’ organizations, sector leaders, and mainly young Mexicans who live in these rural communities to share their experiences.

Organizations from all over Mexico participated in the event, including AMHPAC, AHIFORES, and the CNA; from Sinaloa, the President of the AARC, Enrique Riveros, the General Director of CIDH-CAADES, Mario Robles, and the General Director of Veggies from Mexico, Georgius Gotsis, accompanied the participants.

Senator Nancy Sanchez Arredondo, Senator Arturo Bours Griffit, Senator Beatriz Paredes Rangel, as well as executives from the Ministry of Labor also participated in the forum.

Naturally, those who participated and shared their thoughts on the possibility of being able to work in the agricultural sector were the young people.  Most of the young people from all over the Republic agreed that the field is a space of development for them that has safe options where they can work and contribute economically not only to their parents and siblings but in many cases to their children.  Similarly, some young people argued that being able to have a job in the field would allow them to continue contributing to their studies.

The young participants, together with the experts in the field, argued that there are places where it is safe to work, leaving out areas where there could be risks. In addition to limiting working hours and encouraging study.

Representing Sinaloa were Jarintzy Guadalupe Rauz Gallegos, Luis Enrique Rauz Gallegos, Ramiro Martínez Nava, Yair Emmanuel Ramirez Pantaleón, Brayan Uriel Lugo Ochoa, and Adasha Juarez Morales, who argued their need and request to be allowed to work in the fields, seeing in this sector an important opportunity for growth. Of course, in a safe way.

At the end of the event and once the conferences of the different round tables were summarized, a conclusion of the same was elaborated. This would be transmitted to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to be taken into account as the sector’s opinion in the final drafting of the standard.

Undoubtedly, it was a promising dynamic, with great participation, and we believe that it will allow young people to collaborate in activities in the field that are safe for them, that will allow them to continue their studies, and contribute to the Mexican countryside.