Roberto Lazzeri begins management as ambassador with call for cooperation

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) decided by majority that the resources from individual retirement accounts delivered to the beneficiaries should not pay Income Tax (ISR). The plenary session considered that these funds are part of the assets of the deceased worker and seek to provide economic protection to their designees.

The court considered that establishing a different tax treatment between beneficiaries named by will and those recognized by law would be an unjustified difference. In both cases, the resources have the same origin and purpose.

The decision arose from a contradiction between two Collegiate Courts. One argued that Afore resources are taxed income, as they do not fit into the inheritance exemption of article 93 of the Income Tax Law. The other considered them comparable to inheritance or legacy, exempt from tax.

Minister President Hugo Aguilar Ortiz stated:

“I am sure that the amount that an Afore has is infinitely less than the inheritance… We are talking about millionaire inheritances exempt from taxes, but taxes are paid on a small fund that the worker accumulated throughout his working life. If we add to that the fact that this fund is intended for the worker to survive in his old age or for his family members to benefit, it seems to me that we will not do an act of justice if we go in the direction of taxing these funds.”

The plenary session withdrew the matter to prepare a new project that includes the considerations of the debate. The contradiction in criteria is still pending final resolution. The original project of Minister Sara Irene Herrerías Guerra proposed taxing the Afore amounts of deceased workers with ISR when they were delivered to their beneficiaries.

The Judicial Administration Body (OAJ) dismissed 43 social workers from the Federal Institute of Public Defender (IFDP). The measure affects 39 women and four men distributed in 31 delegations in the country.

Key tasks for vulnerable sectors

The staff performed substantive functions: accompaniment and legal defense of victims of violence, indigenous people, migrants and people in poverty. Without these professionals, the socioeconomic research necessary to identify conditions of vulnerability and strengthen free legal strategies is weakened.

María Emilia Molina, president of the Mexican Association of Judges A.C., warned:

“The removal of the entire social work area raises alarms about the quality of the administration of justice, since said personnel were in charge of carrying out socioeconomic research, identifying conditions of vulnerability and providing key data to strengthen free legal strategies.”

He also pointed out that the dismissals were carried out without specifying the causes and directly affected employees with chronic illnesses or in retirement who depended on social security.

Reactions and legal actions

The National Association of Circuit Magistrates and District Judges (Jufed) expressed its immediate rejection. So far, neither the IFDP nor the OAJ have issued an official position. The affected workers began to organize to file legal appeals against the conclusion of their contracts.

Civil associations asked the authorities to reconsider the measure and reinstate the staff. They emphasized the human impact of the cut and the risk of institutional helplessness for public defender users.

Slim’s prognosis

Carlos Slim Helú, president of Grupo Carso, stated this Wednesday that crude oil production in Mexico could reach up to 2.5 million barrels per day in the coming years. The statement occurred during an event of the Mexican Union of Engineers Associations (UMAI).

“What is coming is very good oil production, as these companies that are in the sea get back to work. That of the Brazilian partner is also going to be important and we will already start producing oil to reach levels of 2 or 2.5 million barrels per day,” said the businessman.

Slim stressed that the agreements between Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and private companies will bear fruit. He especially mentioned the collaboration with the Australian Woodside Energy in the deepwater Trion field. He also referred to the benefits that the association with Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company, will bring.

The increase in production, according to Slim, will not only strengthen Pemex but will have a positive impact on the national economy, with job creation and attraction of investments.

The Trion field is key to this strategy. The partnership between Pemex and Woodside Energy seeks to develop this field, which could mark a before and after in the production of Mexican crude oil.