LatinNews Daily - 23 October 2024

*Mexico’s lower chamber of congress has approved a constitutional reform initiative related to social welfare issues which, among other things, lowers the age at which people can receive State pensions from 68 to 65. Deputies voted by 408 in favour to 65 against with no abstentions to approve the bill, which also grants a non-contributory pension to disabled people under the age of 65. The reform also guarantees that the State provides a “secure, fair and permanent” daily wage to farmers who cultivate their land with fruit trees, timber trees and other species of trees that require processing, as well as direct annual support and free fertilisers to small-scale producers, and direct annual support to small-scale fishermen. It also introduces price guarantees for corn, beans, milk, rice, and wheat. The reform will now pass to the senate for a vote.