Congress broad protection of artisans in emergencies and natural disasters

Congress approved reforms to the legislation to promote micro-industry to promote access to financing for artisans and protect your activities in emergency situations or natural disasters. With the approval of the Senate, the modifications were sent to the Executive Branch for promulgation in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

The modifications -approved unanimously- to the Federal Law for the Promotion of Micro-industry broaden the powers of the Ministry of Economy and state governments of set popup programs support for micro-industry and craft activity in the event of an emergency or disaster that prevents the development of economic activity.

“Although it is true that there is a range of supports and actions to promote and strengthen this activity, the truth is that in the body of the law they are not considered extraordinary actions to attend to events like the ones we are experiencing due to the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19)”, highlights the project.

With the reform, artisans will receive support in emergency situations such as: communicable diseases, such as the case of Covid-19, emergencies or catastrophes and deterioration of the environment and not only in events classified as a health emergency.

“Recently we were able to observe that as a result of the pandemic, everything that refers to craft houses, markets, archaeological zones, tourist centers, sales expos, fairs and contests and all of them fell, especially in the tourism field. those spaces that our artisans occupied. For this reason, it is urgent to support artisans throughout the Mexican geography,” said Mayuli Latifa Martínez, president of the First Legislative Studies Commission.

Boost to financing

The Senate also approved that artisans group together to access more financing and they can jointly buy raw materials and inputs to make their products.

The reform of sections 1 and 11 of article 7 also proposes that the Ministry of Economy develop mechanisms to promote the development of indigenous communities and the inclusion of artisansalthough these are not constituted as a micro-industry.

“These artisans require that this creative capacity be a support for their income, it allows them to have income to support themselves and their families, they are capable of marketing it paying just enough. These artists and craftsmen require that there be financing to transform their workshops in small micro-industries,” said Beatriz Paredes Rangel, a PRI senator.

Likewise, Martínez stressed that artisans from indigenous communities should be included in the economic development of the country. “These reforms represent a historic opportunity for the development of artisans and the peoples of indigenous communities in Mexico.”