Background and Relevance
In a press conference, experts warned about critical “knots” in public policy that could perpetuate the very inequalities the new rules aim to address. The report “Connected to Change” was presented by women’s collectives and civil organizations during the IMSS pilot program for digital platform workers. The report, released now that the labor reform has entered into force with some adjustments, highlights that while the reform is historic, its implementation has not closed pre-existing gender gaps.
Key Findings and Issues
The study, based on workshops and testimonies, identified four main barriers disproportionately affecting women workers, who are predominantly single mothers supporting their families financially.
- High exposure to violence and insecurity: Nearly 7 out of 10 women have experienced harassment, physical and verbal abuse, or even threats to their lives, according to Verónica Álvarez from the Lady Drivers collective in Guadalajara.
- The Exclusion Factor: A deduction that forces female drivers and couriers to generate income significantly above the net target to meet the minimum IMSS contribution threshold. This results in indirect exclusion from full social security access and lower contributions once access is achieved, as explained by Néstor Génis, one of the report’s analysts.
- Algorithmic management opacity and 30-day inactivity rules: These factors create “indirect discrimination,” according to Marianela Fernández from OXFAM.
Proposed Solutions and Demands
In response to these challenges, organizations and spokespersons called for immediate action. They demanded that platform companies implement real anti-violence protocols with effective sanctions, ensuring that reporting does not lead to algorithmic penalties. They also urged federal authorities to adjust or eliminate exclusion factor thresholds and ensure labor inspection enters the digital world to audit algorithmic management with a gender focus.
Furthermore, they requested that the IMSS develop clear guidelines on health insurance, publish gender-disaggregated information, and adapt childcare services to non-traditional working hours, such as evenings, nights, and weekends when women in the sector work.
Supporting Organizations and Their Roles
Valentina Zendejas, Mexico representative for Fundación Avina, emphasized the importance of women’s collectives as technical allies in crafting the report to ensure that implementation does not reproduce the inequalities it aims to correct. The final proposal is clear: collaborate with institutions and companies to ensure a dignified and secure digital future for women workers.
