Mexico City, February 18 – The Secretariat of Labor and Employment (STyFE) of the Mexico City Government has announced the commencement of inspections targeting digital platforms within the city. This initiative aims to bolster local labor policy in response to the technological transformation of work.
STyFE Uncovers Low Social Security Affiliation Among Platform Workers
Inés González Nicolás, head of STyFE, stated that this strategy is part of a series of focused inspections on strategic economic sectors. During these inspections, the authority identified “a limited proportion of workers incorporated into social security compared to the total universe providing services through applications.”
This discovery signals a new stage in the implementation of labor reform concerning digital platform work. The focus is shifting from institutional support to formal verification of compliance with employer obligations. The STyFE’s findings highlight a significant gap between the provision of services and access to social security.
Demographics and Coverage Disparities
Data collected during the inspections indicate that the sector is predominantly male, and social security coverage remains low relative to the total number of individuals earning income via platforms. According to the STyFE Data Dashboard, as of January 2026, Mexico City registered 31,299 digital platform workers affiliated with the IMSS. Of these, 94.5% are men, with female participation limited to 5.5%.
This formalization gap emerges despite recent reforms to the Federal Labor Law and a 13% increase in the minimum wage for 2026. The minimum wage adjustment raised the net monthly income threshold for social security access, requiring workers to generate higher gross incomes to qualify.
Labor Reform and Interpretation Challenges
The reform acknowledges and regulates the conditions under which individuals operate in mobility and delivery applications, establishing criteria for key aspects such as:
- Recognition of the employment relationship.
- Wage nature of income.
- Registration of working hours.
- Breakdown and granting of benefits.
However, inspections also revealed discrepancies in how companies interpret these elements. STyFE announced that it would initiate a legal definition process to establish clearer normative application criteria.
National Trend: Low Incorporation Not Exclusive to CDMX
Across Mexico, the debate surrounding digital platforms has centered on social security access, labor classification, and balancing operational flexibility with rights protection. The low incorporation observed by STyFE is not unique to the capital. Nationally, registrations barely reach 139,000 individuals, placing social security at the heart of regulatory discussions in an environment where application-based work growth has outpaced institutional adaptation.
González added that the field information will help identify non-compliance patterns, design corrective actions, and guide public policies that address the sector’s real conditions.
Minimum Wage and Exclusion Factors
Mobile Time Latinoamérica inquired whether the minimum wage increase acts as a barrier to formalization in the sector. STyFE denied it was an “insurmountable barrier,” arguing that the cost represents a minimal proportion of companies’ operations. However, the institution acknowledged the existence of an “exclusion factor”: a percentage of workers who, by design, are excluded from full insurance.
According to STyFE, this factor has decreased in recent months after originally being set at higher levels to allow for a “gradual implementation” of the scheme.
The main image was created by Mobile Time with AI.
Source: Mobile Time Latinoamérica
