Guatemala City, by Jenny Herrera -AGN- Through its consular network in Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -Minex- provided assistance and protection to 118 Guatemalan migrants rescued on September 1 on a road in Veracruz, Mexico.
Mexican Authorities located the group of 123 migrants when the bus they were traveling in collided with a compact vehicle. They found that 118 travelers were Guatemalans, including 20 unaccompanied minors.
Support
After ensuring the safety of the migrants and confirming that they were unharmed in the accident, the Mexican authorities transferred them to a migrant station, where Guatemalan officials provided protection.
The Guatemalan consular network in Mexico will continue to follow up on the case to assist Guatemalans. The support focuses primarily on providing documentation for unaccompanied minors so they can continue their migration process safely. In the case of adult migrants, the consular officials assist in their safe return to Guatemala.
Program
The Temporary Work Program was officially established in May 2021. Its main objective is to connect Guatemalan workers with dignified employment opportunities generated in the foreign labor market, thus discouraging them from the dangers of irregular migration.
By order of President Alejandro Giammattei, Guatemalan public institutions promote this program as a gateway to regular, orderly, and safe migration with the support of cooperating countries such as the United States and Canada. This strategy helps reduce irregular migration, preventing more people from exposing themselves to a dangerous journey.
It also follows the government’s commitment to protect and respect workers’ rights and equality.
Regular Migration
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security -Mintrab- continues to promote the capabilities of Guatemalan human resources abroad. The Ministry aims to take advantage of employment opportunities outside Guatemalan territory, focusing on assisting women and men with agricultural experience and planting and harvesting different products.
