The pandemic that is ravaging most of the countries in the world has changed working conditions and trade unions must adapt to new ways of living and new ways of work, and continue to ensure the well-being and health of our members. COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the gaming industry, as there have been mass event cancellations, thus wiping out sports betting.
In the case of Mexico, the National General Health Council and the Federal Ministry of Health declared a health emergency due to force majeure from March 30 to April 30, based on Article 427 section I of the Federal Labour Law, which establishes that the causes of temporary suspension of work relations in a company or institution are force majeure, unforeseen circumstances or not attributable to the fault of the employer, or his physical or mental incapacity or his death, which produce a necessary, immediate, and direct suspension of work activities.
In this context, the role of social dialogue is increasingly important because the procedure is to notify the Secretary of Labour through the Local or Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Boards as appropriate, so that through the Special Collective Procedure the suspension of work is approved or disapproved. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have signed global agreements with transnational companies, where the respect and promotion of decent work and labour rights is agreed based on the conventions established by the ILO.
UNI has global agreements with CODERE and GRUPO CALIENTE establishing that the employer will respect the obligations arising from the employment relationship with the workers, as well as the laws and regulations related to social security and labour rights. The parties have agreed to maintain a cordial working relationship which has allowed us to negotiate and reach agreements with companies and always seek better living conditions for workers and their families.
SINTOLED Mexico has reached several agreements with gaming companies, where there is collective representation through collective bargaining agreements. There has been a permanent dialogue with gaming companies, always seeking to protect the interests and benefits of workers. Since the beginning of this isolation phase of COVID 19, there has been direct communication between the Union and the companies to establish and apply the necessary prevention and sanitary measures to avoid infection of workers.
With CODERE, an agreement was reached for the partial payment of daily wages, respecting 100% of the benefits established in the current collective agreement of all workers that protects the same employment contract. This agreement is in force until May 31; if Phase 3 of the COVID-19 health emergency is declared at any time, and if the period of isolation is extended, it is most likely that we will have to apply article 427 section VII of the Federal Labour Law, where employers can pay a daily minimum wage for up to a period of one month. The company agrees to meet the dates set forth in the agreement.
With the CALIENTE it was agreed the company will continue to pay the total amount of daily wages of all the workers under the collective bargaining agreement, for one month, from March 30 to April 30.
The same applies to the Spanish company Orenes, where we have reached an agreement where employees with higher salaries will be paid 70% of their wages, while workers with lower salaries will receive 100% of their wages.
