Inclusive Employment Law
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 29-2025
- Published: January 22, 2026
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Gazette: 37,050
- Category: Labor
Summary
This law requires the Honduran State and large private companies to hire at least 5% of people from indigenous and Afro-Honduran communities, promoting equal employment without discrimination. It also mandates that the Foreign Service include the same percentage in its positions, ensuring decent work opportunities for these communities.
Considerations
Whereas the Constitution of the Republic in its Article 60 establishes: "All men are born free and equal in rights. In Honduras there are no privileged classes. All Hondurans are equal before the Law. Any discrimination on the basis of sex, race, class and any other grounds harmful to human dignity is declared punishable".
Whereas Article 346 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras establishes: "It is the duty of the State to enact measures for the protection of the rights and interests of indigenous communities existing in the country".
Whereas Article 20 of Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in its paragraph 1) expresses: "Governments shall adopt, within the framework of their national legislation and in cooperation with the peoples concerned, special measures to guarantee workers belonging to such peoples effective protection with regard to recruitment and conditions of employment, to the extent that they are not effectively protected by legislation applicable to workers in general".
Whereas the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in its Article 2 paragraph 2) establishes: "Member States shall, when circumstances so warrant, take special and concrete measures in the social, economic, cultural and other fields to ensure the proper development and protection of certain racial groups, with a view to guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms".
Whereas Article 2 of Convention 111 on Discrimination in Employment expresses: "Each Member for which this Convention is in force undertakes to formulate and carry out a national policy designed to promote, by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation, with a view to eliminating any discrimination in respect thereof".
Whereas the State must guarantee respect for each people as a fundamental purpose of its policies, providing protection and comprehensive development, as well as greater inclusion in equal opportunities, improved living conditions, preservation of customs, values and culture, since these are principles of each indigenous and Afro-Honduran people.
Whereas in accordance with Article 205 Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is within the power of the National Congress to: Create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
Articles
GENERAL OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this Law is to promote dignified work for Hondurans from indigenous peoples, linking axes such as education and professional training from the perspective of labor inclusion, generating opportunities to access the right to work for the following peoples: Lenca, Maya-Chortí, Tawahka, Tolupán, Chorotega, Pech, Miskitu, Nahua, Garífuna and English-Speaking or Creole Black Hondurans.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR INCLUSIVE HIRING. The State of Honduras recognizes the right to dignified, equitable work without discrimination for indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples, in accordance with constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination, social justice and cultural pluralism. By virtue of such recognition, it is the duty of all State institutions, as well as large private enterprises, to ensure the integration into their personnel rosters and labor hiring of at least five percent (5%) of persons belonging to the peoples: Lenca, Maya-Chortí, Tawahka, Tolupán, Chorotega, Pech, Miskitu, Nahua, Garífuna and English-Speaking or Creole Black Hondurans. Micro and small enterprises are excluded from this obligation, defined as such in accordance with Article 2 of the Law for the Recovery and Reactivation of the Micro and Small Enterprise, contained in Decree No. 48-2022 of May 12, 2022, published in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta" dated May 26, 2022.
PLURAL PARTICIPATION IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF HONDURAS. The Executive Branch, through the State Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, shall ensure the integration of at least five percent (5%) in positions and ranks within the Foreign Service of persons belonging to the peoples mentioned in Article 1 of this Law, respecting the principles of merit, fitness and cultural representativeness, as a measure to promote labor inclusion and make visible the cultural diversity of Honduras in the international sphere and strengthen the State's commitment to plural representation in foreign policy.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This Decree shall enter into force as of the date of its publication in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta". Done in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Hall of Sessions of the National Congress, on the seventh day of the month of May of two thousand twenty-five. LUIS ROLANDO REDONDO GUIFARRO PRESIDENT LUZ ANGÉLICA SMITH MEJÍA SECRETARY JOSUÉ FABRICIO CARBAJAL SANDOVAL SECRETARY To the Executive Branch. Therefore: Let it be executed. Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., May 14, 2025 IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE STATE SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Related laws
- Inclusive Employment Law Single Chapter on Its Purpose and Duty of Inclusion — This law requires the State and large private companies to hire at least 5% of people from indigenous and Afro-Honduran communities in their jobs, ensuring equal opportunities and eliminating labor discrimination. It also requires the Foreign Service to incorporate personnel from these communities with the same percentage, respecting merit and suitability. (Decree 29-2025, 2025)
- Law on Inclusive Employment — This law requires the State and large private companies to hire at least 5% of people from indigenous and Afro-Honduran communities in their positions, guaranteeing equal employment opportunities without discrimination. It also mandates that the Foreign Service include representatives of these communities in diplomatic positions, promoting cultural diversity in Honduras. (Decree 29-2025, 2026)
- Decreto Legislativo No. 29-2025 — Ley de Empleo Inclusivo (Decree 29-2025, 2026)
- Executive Decree PCM-029-2017 through which the National Employment Policy of Honduras 2017-2028 is approved — This decree approves Honduras' National Employment Policy 2017-2028, a state plan to increase productive capacity for Hondurans, especially youth, facilitating access to dignified and secure jobs. It aims to reduce poverty, inequality, and unemployment through coordinated economic and social actions that promote inclusive business growth. (Decree 266-2013, 2017)
- PCM No. PCM-075-2018 — Política Nacional de Empleo y administración de fondos públicos — This decree approves Honduras' National Employment Policy 2017-2028, which aims to create more and better jobs for Hondurans, especially youth, through economic and social actions. It benefits workers and the unemployed by establishing conditions for job creation in the private sector, reducing poverty and inequality, with Executive Branch oversight of public funds management. (Decree PCM-075-2018, 2018)