A controversial labour reform reached the Mexican senate Monday and will be discussed for the next 30 days. If passed, the bill will be sent to President Felipe Calderon for signature and if not it will return to the House of Representatives.

While the bill is supported by the House of Representatives, the opposition consider it a “robbery” of their rights, according to TeleSur.

President Felipe Calderon said the bill “has the purpose of giving employment to the people who do not have access to work today”. President elect, Enrique Peña Nieto said via Twitter, “My congratulations and appreciation to all legislators committed to the development and progress of Mexico”.

Several unions and citizen groups have been protesting against the bill outside the House of Representatives for over a week.

Workers claim that the bill violates union autonomy and would infringe on their social and worker rights. If passed, the reform would legalize outsourcing contracts, impose training contracts and base promotion on productivity instead of seniority, according to TeleSur.

It has been four decades since the Federal Labour Law has been changed.