The Mexico City Secretary of Labor and Employment Promotion (STyFE), led by Mtra. Inés González Nicolás, continues to operate the Unemployment Insurance program, the only one of its kind in the country. This program provides financial assistance of up to 10,698.66 pesos to Mexico City residents who have involuntarily lost their jobs.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), Mexico City reported an unemployment rate of 4% in the first quarter of 2026, the highest among all states in the country. Nationally, the unemployed population reached 1.6 million people during this period, with a rate of 2.6% of the Economically Active Population (EAP).
Program History and Scope
The Unemployment Insurance program was established in 2007 during the administration of then-Head of Government Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, and formally institutionalized on August 28, 2008, under the Law for the Protection and Promotion of Employment of Mexico City. Since then, it has operated continuously as a national benchmark in social protection for unemployed workers.
Over the years, the program has progressively expanded its reach:
- 2010: Included repatriated migrants.
- 2013: Extended to pre-released and released individuals from correctional facilities.
- 2014: Covered women dismissed due to pregnancy.
- 2015: Included indigenous communities and native peoples.
- 2016: Supported human rights defenders and displaced journalists.
- 2022: Included individuals dismissed due to discrimination.
From its inception until 2025, the program has provided a total of 551,690 grants: 298,559 to women, 253,130 to men, and 2 to non-binary individuals. The year with the highest coverage was 2020, with 48,994 beneficiaries, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2026, the program operates with a budget of 86,651,000 pesos and aims to benefit 7,494 people, with at least 55% being women, aligning with the capital government’s substantive equality policy.
Eligibility and Exclusions
The Unemployment Insurance program has two modalities:
1. “Unemployment Insurance” Program (General Population)
- Age: 18 to 64 years old.
- Residency: Must reside in one of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs.
- Work History: Must have worked at least six months in the formal sector during the two years prior to the application.
2. “Welfare Unemployment Insurance” Component (Priority and Emergency Groups)
This component serves specific vulnerable groups, including:
- Repatriated migrants
- Guests of other nationalities
- Refugees
- Pre-released and released individuals from correctional facilities
- People dismissed due to discrimination
- Indigenous communities
- Human rights defenders
- Displaced journalists
- Victims of crimes or violence
- Agricultural workers affected by disasters
- Public market vendors affected by construction or disasters
Exclusions for Both Modalities
Individuals receiving pensions, retirements, subsidies, or any other similar support from the Mexico City Government are excluded.
The general program can be utilized up to two times in a person’s working life, with a minimum interval of two years between each application. Priority groups, however, can only access the program once.
Payment Details and Requirements
Each beneficiary can receive up to 3,439.46 pesos monthly for a maximum of three months, totaling up to 10,698.66 pesos per beneficiary. The money is deposited within 15 days after the publication of the list of accepted beneficiaries, according to the registration date.
To receive the second and third payments, general population beneficiaries must meet two requirements:
- Job Applications: Submit proof of four job applications, two of which must be sent digitally within the first seven business days after receiving the first payment.
- Training Courses: Complete two training courses with a minimum grade of 8.0 and 100% completion.
Priority and emergency groups are exempt from these requirements.
In addition to financial aid, STyFE connects beneficiaries with the “Tecpantli Icpac” Employment Agency and the labor placement area to facilitate re-entry into the formal market through job boards and employment fairs.
Required Documents
For the General Population:
Applicants must upload the following documents in PDF or JPG format:
- Valid INE Voter ID: Both sides, with a Mexico City address.
- CURP: Must match the INE ID.
- Proof of Job Loss:
- IMSS Certificate of Quoted Weeks (maximum 15 calendar days old, downloadable from serviciosdigitales.imss.gob.mx) OR
- ISSSTE Unique Electronic File (downloadable from oficinavirtual.issste.gob.mx).
- For those without social security: a labor certificate on letterhead, a labor lawsuit, or an agreement before a competent authority.
- Commitment Letter: Downloadable from the platform.
- Letter Under Oath to Tell the Truth: Downloadable from the platform.
For Priority Groups:
In addition to the above, an official referral letter from the corresponding agency is required, depending on their situation. Examples include:
- National Migration Institute (INM) for migrants and repatriated individuals.
- Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (COMAR) for refugees.
- Social Reintegration Institute for pre-released and released individuals.
- Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination of Mexico City (COPRED) for those dismissed due to discrimination.
- Secretary of Native Peoples and Original Neighborhoods and Resident Indigenous Communities (SEPI) for indigenous communities.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Create a Llave CDMX Account: Begin by creating an account on the Llave CDMX platform at llave.cdmx.gob.mx. This requires a personal email and mobile phone number and is non-transferable.
- Download and Sign Documents: With an active account, download and sign the Commitment Letter and the Letter Under Oath to Tell the Truth from segurodedesempleo.cdmx.gob.mx.
- Digitize Documents and Submit Application: Digitize all required documentation and submit your application on the official platform: tramites.cdmx.gob.mx/desempleo.
- Receive Unique Folio: Upon completing the registration, the system will generate a unique folio number.
- Await Response: STyFE has a maximum of 30 business days to issue a response. Approved folios are published on segurodedesempleo.cdmx.gob.mx and trabajo.cdmx.gob.mx.
The application process is completely free of charge.
Contact and Support
For guidance and assistance, applicants can visit the central STyFE offices at Calzada San Antonio Abad 32, Colonia Tránsito, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 hours. Alternatively, you can call 55 5709 3233 and 55 5038 0200 (option 6). Complaints and clarifications are also handled via email at [email protected].
Source: Infobae Mexico
