Inclusive Employment Law Single Chapter on Its Purpose and Duty of Inclusion
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 29-2025
- Published: January 22, 2026
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Gazette: 37,050
- Category: Labor
Summary
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.
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. All discrimination on grounds of sex, race, class and any other that is 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 numeral 1) expresses: "Governments shall adopt, within the framework of their national legislation and in cooperation with the peoples concerned, special measures to ensure workers belonging to those peoples effective protection in matters of recruitment and conditions of employment, to the extent that they are not effectively protected by the legislation applicable to workers in general".
Whereas the International Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination in its Article 2 numeral 2), establishes: "State Parties shall take, when circumstances so warrant, special and concrete measures in the social, economic, cultural spheres and in other respects to ensure the proper development and protection of racial groups, in order to guarantee on an equal basis, the full enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms".
Whereas Article 2 of Convention 111 Concerning 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 employment and occupation, with a view to eliminating any discrimination in this respect".
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, enact, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
Articles
GENERAL OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this Law is to promote dignified work for Honduran citizens 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 peoples: Lenca, Maya-Chortí, Tawahka, Tolupán, Chorotega, Pech, Miskitu, Nahua, Garífuna, and English-Speaking or Creole Negro of Honduras.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR INCLUSIVE HIRING. The State of Honduras recognizes the right to dignified, equitable work free from discrimination of indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans, in accordance with the 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 companies, to seek the integration into their personnel payroll and labor contracting 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 Negro of Honduras. Micro and small enterprises are excluded from this obligation, defined as such according to what is established in Article 2 of the Law for the Recovery and Economic Reactivation of Micro and Small Enterprises, 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 Secretariat of State in the Office of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, must seek the integration of at least five percent (5%) in the 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, suitability, 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 become effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta". Given 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 SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE OFFICES OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Related laws
- Inclusive Employment Law — 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. (Decree 29-2025, 2026)
- 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)
- Decreto Legislativo No. 6-2005 — Ley de Creación del BANCO HONDUREÑO PARA LA PRODUCCIÓN Y LA VIVIENDA (BANHPROVI) (Decree 6-2005, 2017)
- Ministerial Agreement 070-2023 — This law creates and organizes the State Secretariat of Cultures, Arts and Patrimonies of Honduras (SECAPPH), which is the institution responsible for formulating public policies to protect, promote and develop national culture, arts and heritage. It benefits artists, creators, communities and citizens by guaranteeing equitable access to cultural and patrimonial expressions, respecting Honduran diversity and identity. (Decree 266-2013, 2023)