Mexico City Sanitation Workers: A System of Precarity and Negligence?
Mexico City, Mexico – Mariana Ascencio Quiroz, a former urban maintenance worker for the Mexico City government, has brought to light a disturbing reality for the city’s sanitation employees. Her allegations include mass layoffs, dangerously unsafe working conditions, and a blatant disregard for fundamental labor rights. Ascencio Quiroz’s testimony, disseminated through a video shared by activist Luciana Kaplan and the documentary “Tratado de Invisibilidad,” paints a grim picture of a system that prioritizes optics over the well-being of its essential workers.
The Whistleblower’s Account: Dismissal for Demanding Dignity
Ascencio Quiroz claims she was unjustly dismissed from the “Transforming the Capital, Public Services Close to the People” program, which falls under the Secretariat of Works and Services, after advocating for improved conditions. She asserts that her termination, along with that of hundreds of colleagues, was a retaliatory act for daring to defend their rights and demand fair treatment.
Fatal Flaws: Unsafe Uniforms and Lack of Protocols
A critical point of Ascencio Quiroz’s denunciation concerns the imposed uniform color, a shade of maroon, which she argues violates national and international visibility standards. “Four colleagues from this social program… have already died due to a lack of safety protocols, for using maroon uniforms outside national and international norms, and for the violation of traffic regulations,” she stated. This alleged negligence in worker safety protocols, she emphasizes, has led directly to fatalities on the job. The transition from an outsourcing model to a “social program” has, according to Ascencio Quiroz, merely changed the legal designation without addressing the underlying issues of precarity and insecurity. She insists that the deaths of her colleagues are a direct consequence of institutional omission and negligence, urging for thorough investigations and the implementation of genuine safety measures.
Mass Layoffs and Deepening Precarity
Ascencio Quiroz revealed that in January 2025, over 400 workers were laid off from Jax Group, a contractor for the capital government. Of these, only seven pursued legal action, supported by organizations like Defensors and Dromómanos, and activist Luciana Kaplan. The vast majority of dismissed workers, she noted, lacked legal and administrative support. “We protested the unjustified dismissals, and only seven of us filed a lawsuit,” she explained, stressing that collective mobilization is the only path to upholding labor rights. The shift to the new employment scheme, she argues, has only exacerbated precarity, leaving employees without contracts, benefits, or adequate wages. “Don’t invisibilize us too. We are not invisible, we are indispensable,” she passionately declared.
An Urgent Plea to Authorities and Society
The former worker has formally requested an urgent audience with Mayor Clara Brugada Molina and the Secretary of Works, Raúl Bazulto Lubiano, to address the plight of the dismissed workers and the overall working conditions of Mexico City’s sanitation personnel. Ascencio Quiroz also implored the public to share her video testimony, emphasizing that visibility is crucial to combating institutional and societal indifference. Her allegations echo warnings from civil organizations and legislators regarding the lack of benefits, unfair wages, and the non-application of the 40-hour workweek law for this sector. The call for dignified conditions, safety, and human rights for Mexico City’s sanitation workers remains a pressing public debate.
