Havana, June 19 (PL-RHC) -- The Cuban Official Gazette has published the new Labor Code of the Republic of Cuba and its complementary provisions supporting legal safeguards for employees and employers.

The legislation became effective as of June 17th, and it is a relevant document in the current context of the national economy.

This Code was discussed in 69,056 assemblies to which about 2,802,459 workers, included 43,380 working abroad, participated.

The revision generated the change of 101 items, the inclusion of 28 new standards and the total reworking of Chapter 2, referent to Labor Organizations.

President Raul Castro announced on December 12, 2012, an extensive popular consultation process to approve the new law.

The president said then that the country's National People's Power Assembly (Parliament) authorized the holding of a popular consultation about the Draft of the new Labor Code.

After defining the relationship between employees and employers with rights and obligations, the legislation includes for the first time the private sector in a chapter, which governs work relations among individuals.