As stated at the Preparation Seminar held last June, no existing guarantees will be removed; rather, they will be expanded, always ensuring a balance between individual rights, collective rights, and the interests of labor administration.

Olgalidi Alapón Travieso, expert from the Legal and International Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), explained that the new Labor Code will establish judicial, institutional, and union mechanisms to enforce these rights and responsibilities, as well as address collective labor relations through the effective participation of workers and collective bargaining.

In statements to the weekly Trabajadores, Alapón noted that among the main modifications are the establishment of a minimum working age of 17 or 18, the prohibition of using fixed-term contracts for permanent work, and the prohibition of employers from terminating employment or conditioning hiring, retention, or promotion of female workers due to pregnancy.

She emphasized that once approved, the Labor Code will apply to all forms of employment.

The draft also includes changes to procedures for assigning newly graduated workers and fulfilling social service obligations, as well as the requirement for employers, including those in the non-state sector, to protect workers’ income in cases of work interruptions or termination of employment.