Reduced Aguinaldo for Government Officials, López Obrador

An official decree published on the National Official Gazette (DOF) states a new austerity policy, which will reduce the “aguinaldo” or Christmas bonus of public officials by 50 percent, meaning 20 working days instead of the regular 40. The president said that this decision was made in light of the crisis brought by COVID-19.

The decree was published on Nov. 5 and on Nov. 6, during his daily morning conference, the president stated that there will be an aguinaldo for everyone. However, “those in high ranks will receive less, but they will have their bonus. The cut is voluntary and resources will be used for the fund that is being created for the COVID-19 situation," said López Obrador. According to El Financiero, after making this statement, the president also said that the only person without a bonus will be him. Instead, the money will be given to the Treasury (TESOFE). It was also stated that agencies and entities will be forced to forfeit part of their bonus.

According to El Financiero, these are the public workers that will be affected: those working on warehousing and inventory, directors, auditors, managers of funds or securities, Foreign Service officials that are in Mexican territory, active military personnel and officials with a military, civil or IMSS pension. The document says other positions may also be part of the cut, but they are not specified. Public officials from agencies and entities regulated by the Federal Law of Workers in the Service of the State will not be harmed by this, however, according to El Heraldo.

Infobae also reported that to help the economic reactivation, all state workers received their aguinaldo on Nov. 4. This strategy, according to Arturo Herrera Gutiérrez, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, was implemented so people can take advantage of the Buen Fin’s promotions.