Economic Situation Drives Workers to Seek Unemployment Withdrawals from Afores
In May 2025, there was no record of new job openings; instead, a loss of 540 formal jobs was reported according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi). This lack of employment growth is reflected in the unemployment withdrawals from Afores, which have become one of the most sought-after procedures at the 2025 Afore Fair, as per advisors present at the event.
Economic Conditions, Necessity, and Unemployment Drive Immediate Solutions
During a visit to the fair, those directly assisting workers seeking guidance on their retirement savings reported that economic conditions, necessity, and unemployment lead workers to view their Afore as an immediate solution.
“However, they should consider that this affects them in the long run because unemployment withdrawals imply a reduction of cotization weeks,” they advise.
Consar Warned Workers About Free Unemployment Withdrawals
The National Commission for the Savings System for Retirement (Consar) has warned workers that all Afore-related procedures are free and recommends avoiding intermediaries who charge a portion of the withdrawals made. Advisors at the fair echo this warning, stating that unemployment withdrawals not only reduce the account balance but also cotization weeks.
“The necessity of people leads them to make inadequate decisions because, initially, they will have more money, but it will affect them in the long run,” they commented.
They mentioned that a considerable percentage of workers who undertake the unemployment withdrawal process later return the money to regain their cotization weeks. However, when withdrawals are facilitated through intermediaries known as “coyotes,” these individuals charge a commission and expect workers to cover this cost when returning the funds, placing the entire burden on the workers.
Maximum Historical Unemployment Withdrawals Reached in 2025
During the first five months of 2025, unemployment withdrawals from Afores reached a new historical maximum with 740,157 partial withdrawals due to unemployment amounting to 14,556 million pesos, according to Consar.
Consar detected that intermediaries temporarily register workers with inflated salaries in the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) for periods shorter than a week. Subsequently, they manage unemployment withdrawals using this artificially elevated last salary as the basis for calculation, charging commissions of up to 30% of the obtained amount.
In response, the Senate of the Republic must approve the reform to the Social Security Law to regulate unemployment withdrawals from Afores, an initiative promoted by the Chamber of Deputies.
Impact of Unemployment Withdrawals on Pensions in Mexico
Mexico lacks unemployment insurance; the closest alternative is the partial unemployment withdrawal from an Afore account. However, few inform workers that this action reduces both accumulated savings and cotization weeks, a crucial factor for securing a pension.
César Islas Peña, General Coordinator of Economic Studies and Special Projects at the National Commission for the Savings System for Retirement (Consar), warns that Article 198 of the Social Security Law mandates cotization weeks as an indispensable requirement for pension eligibility.
When making an unemployment withdrawal, the IMSS deducts cotization weeks proportionally to the amount extracted from the retirement subaccount, early retirement, and old age benefits. These weeks can only be regained if the worker fully or partially returns the withdrawn amount.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are unemployment withdrawals from Afores? Unemployment withdrawals from Afores are procedures that allow workers to access their retirement savings due to job loss or reduced work hours.
- Why are unemployment withdrawals increasingly popular? The economic situation, necessity, and unemployment drive workers to seek immediate solutions through their Afore accounts.
- Are unemployment withdrawals free? Yes, according to the Consar, all Afore-related procedures are free, and workers should avoid intermediaries charging commissions.
- How do unemployment withdrawals affect pension eligibility? Unemployment withdrawals reduce both the accumulated savings and cotization weeks, which are essential for securing a pension.
- What is being done to regulate unemployment withdrawals? The Senate of the Republic must approve a reform to the Social Security Law to regulate unemployment withdrawals from Afores.
