Background on Graciela Bensunsán and Her Relevance
Graciela Bensunsán, a researcher and panelist at the Mecanismo Laboral de Respuesta Rápida (MLRR), recently highlighted significant obstacles in the pilot program for app reform, which began in July and is set to conclude in December. Her insights are crucial as she sheds light on the challenges faced by workers trying to affiliate with the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS).
Three Major Obstacles in the App Reform Pilot Program
Bensunsán identified three primary obstacles hindering substantial worker affiliation with the IMSS:
- Excessive Requirements and Deductions: The researcher pointed out that the stringent requirements and high deductions create a significant barrier for workers.
- High Exclusion Factor: Bensunsán emphasized that the exclusion factor is alarmingly high, compounded by the consideration of only 75% effective connection time.
- Worker Responsibility for Work Instruments: The current approach places the onus on workers to provide their own work instruments, often going against labor laws and affecting vulnerable workers.
Misleading Incorporation Figures and Real Impact
Bensunsán also clarified that the initial celebration of one million workers joining the IMSS was premature. In reality, only 133,000 workers reached the net minimum wage threshold to gain full security social coverage.
María Ascensión Morales, a professor at the Faculty of Law at UNAM, echoed these concerns. She explained that the current setup’s income and deduction filters act as a factor of exclusion, leaving out most individuals who rely on these activities for survival. This creates a dual labor market with a minimal formal segment and a large informal segment supporting the actual service operation.
Addressing Piloting Sesgos and Ensuring Effective Labor Protection
Morales Ramírez stressed that the pilot program must rectify these biases to prevent legitimizing precarity. She warned that without correcting the access mechanism, the pilot phase would only result in statistical formalization rather than genuine labor protection.
- Limited Impact of Security Social Modifications: Morales highlighted that recent reforms in security social have had limited impact. For instance, only 2.5% of the 2.5 million domestic workers have managed to affiliate with the IMSS.
- App-Based Workers’ Limited Affiliation: Out of over one million app-based workers, only 133,178 are genuinely registered with the IMSS.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main obstacles in the app reform pilot program? The three primary challenges include excessive requirements and deductions, a high exclusion factor, and the expectation that workers provide their own work instruments.
- How many workers have actually gained full security social coverage? Only 133,000 workers have reached the net minimum wage threshold for full coverage.
- What is the impact of current income and deduction filters? These filters act as a factor of exclusion, leaving out most individuals who rely on these activities for survival.
- What are the concerns regarding labor protection in the pilot program? Without correcting the access mechanism, the pilot phase risks resulting in statistical formalization rather than genuine labor protection.
- How many domestic workers have managed to affiliate with the IMSS? Only 2.5% of the 2.5 million domestic workers have successfully affiliated with the IMSS.
- How many app-based workers are genuinely registered with the IMSS? Out of over one million app-based workers, only 133,178 are genuinely registered with the IMSS.
