Historical Increase in IMSS Registrations
In July, there was a historic surge in registrations at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), with 1,266,025 new workers joining, bringing the total number of formal jobs to 23,591,691 in Mexico. This development opens the door for a fundamental right: unionization.
Recognition of Platform Work and Unionization
Following the official recognition of platform work, those workers who have already taken steps towards formalization by registering with IMSS can now pursue unionization. Claudio Martínez, an associate at D&MAbogados, stated in an interview: “This progress will enable these workers to demand and defend their collective work rights, which stem directly from the recent labor reform.”
Martínez’s Insights on Platform Workers’ Unionization
Martínez added, “The logical next step is that platform digital workers now have the right to unionize. We haven’t seen this yet, but in a few months, we’ll start seeing collective bargaining issues related to digital platforms. Combined with social security, all these young people in the digital economy will have greater access to protecting their rights through union representation.”
Platform Workers’ Dependence on Their Jobs
It’s worth noting that initial data from the pilot program shows 80% of platform workers are employed by a single platform, totaling 146,137 individuals. Moreover, 74% of platform workers rely on this employment as their primary income source, contradicting the notion that it’s merely supplementary wages.
Recent Unionization Trends
Since the 2019 labor reform, 600,000 individuals have joined unions in the past six years. If platform workers pursue unionization, this could lead to significant changes.
Recommendations for Digital Market Companies
Martínez advised companies operating in the digital market to register with IMSS and protect their workers through social security. He emphasized, “As it’s a pilot program, it’s crucial for everyone to register so that both the IMSS and users can identify areas for improvement or support. This will make accessing social security more effective for everyone.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of the recent surge in IMSS registrations? The historic increase in IMSS registrations has opened the door for workers to exercise their right to unionize, which could lead to better protection of their collective work rights.
- Who are platform workers, and why is their unionization important? Platform workers are individuals employed by digital platforms such as ride-hailing or food delivery services. Their unionization is crucial to ensure they receive fair treatment, better working conditions, and access to social security.
- What percentage of platform workers rely on their digital jobs as a primary income source? Seventy-four percent of platform workers depend on these jobs as their main income source, contradicting the notion that they are merely supplementary wages.
- How many individuals have joined unions in the past six years? In the last six years, 600,000 individuals have joined unions since the labor reform of 2019.
- What advice does Claudio Martínez offer to companies in the digital market? Martínez recommends that digital market companies register with IMSS to protect their workers through social security and participate in the pilot program to help improve it for everyone.
