Background on the Issue and Relevance of the Mexican Union
The National Union of Workers for Application (UNTA) has called on the Mexican government to join other nations in advocating for an International Convention on platform workers within the International Labour Organization (ILO). This initiative aims to establish global standards that protect all platform workers’ rights, as the current lack of international regulatory framework limits Mexico’s national law and raises critical issues.
Mexican Progress and Current Limitations
In December 2021, Mexico approved a reform to the Federal Labor Law recognizing platform workers’ labor rights. However, UNTA Secretary-General Sergio Guerrero Ornelas highlighted that the absence of an international regulatory framework leaves the national law with limitations and raises urgent concerns.
- Combatting the misclassification of workers as independent contractors when labor subordination exists
- Ensuring universal access to social security, regardless of contractual arrangements
- Establishing minimum guaranteed incomes for those completing full-time work on digital platforms
- Setting clear boundaries for working hours and connection time as worktime, including wait times
- Regulating algorithmic governance, ensuring transparency, the right to explanation, and human review of automated decisions
- Ensuring effective labor inspection, including oversight of algorithms and digital systems
- Protecting freedom of association and ensuring collective bargaining mechanisms and the right to strike adapted to the digital context
Upcoming ILO Conference and UNTA’s Call to Action
The 113th International Labour Conference will commence on June 2 in Geneva, Switzerland, with the agenda focusing on advancing a new international convention to regulate platform work. UNTA’s request for Mexico’s support in this matter emphasizes the need for global standards to address the challenges posed by the platform economy.
UNTA’s Key Demands and Their Impact
By advocating for these global standards, UNTA seeks to ensure decent work conditions and protect platform workers’ rights worldwide. The union’s demands address critical issues such as misclassification, social security access, minimum income guarantees, working hour boundaries, algorithmic governance regulation, labor inspection effectiveness, and freedom of association protection. These measures will contribute to a more equitable digital labor market and safeguard workers’ rights in the evolving gig economy.
