The Baja California Sur State Congress approved reforms to the state’s Law for Economic Development and Competitiveness, creating a formal “Violence-Free Company” certification for businesses that protect women survivors of gender-based violence. The reform also establishes a State Network of Shelter Companies to expand employment opportunities for survivors.
What the Certification Requires
The “Violence-Free Company” distinction is an institutional certification awarded to workplaces that adopt policies to prevent, address, and eliminate workplace harassment and gender-based violence. To earn the certification, businesses must meet several specific requirements.
Companies must establish clear internal protocols against workplace and sexual harassment. They must provide ongoing staff training on gender equality and human rights. Businesses also need to create safe, confidential reporting channels for complaints and ensure follow-up procedures are in place.
Participating employers must offer flexible scheduling for survivors, psychosocial support services, legal counseling, and employee retention monitoring. These measures aim to help women, particularly heads of household, maintain stable employment while recovering from violence.
State Network of Shelter Companies
The reform creates a State Network of Shelter Companies, which SETUE (the state Ministry of Tourism and Economy) will promote across Baja California Sur. The network’s goal is to connect women survivors with formal employment at certified businesses throughout the state.
The Mexican Association of Women Business Owners (AMMJE) is actively promoting the program in the Los Cabos region. AMMJE can guide business owners through the application process, according to the source report. The BCS Congress, a 21-member unicameral body based in La Paz and currently led by president Eduardo Valentín Van Wormer Castro of the MORENA party, passed the reforms as part of a broader push to strengthen labor inclusion and economic autonomy for women.
What Business Owners Should Know
For business owners in BCS, the certification creates a compliance framework tied to the state’s economic development law. Companies pursuing the distinction must document their anti-harassment protocols, maintain records of gender equality training sessions, and demonstrate that confidential complaint channels are operational.
The reform does not appear to impose mandatory participation. Instead, it creates a voluntary certification that businesses can pursue. Regulatory details are available through official bulletins from the BCS Congress at cbcs.gob.mx.
This story was first reported by the Gringo Gazette.