Introduction
In Mexico, approximately 90% of agricultural workers, known as jornaleras, face exploitation due to informality, violence, and precarious working conditions. This issue is highlighted in the report “Sembrando el cambio: Hacia un futuro justo para las trabajadoras agrícolas en México” by UNIDAS, Oxfam Mexico, Ethos Innovación en Políticas Públicas, ProDESC, and Fundación Avina.
The Extent of the Problem
The report reveals that out of Mexico’s 368,000 agricultural workers, 86.6% lack security social benefits. Employers exploit the jornaleras’ need for flexible work hours due to their caregiving responsibilities, leading many to accept jobs without contracts. This situation is even more challenging for migrant and indigenous workers, who face greater vulnerability due to the lack of support networks, language barriers, and immediate economic needs.
Common Practices Among Employers
Employers often engage in illegal practices, such as providing temporary medical passes following workplace accidents. These passes offer limited medical attention without granting rights or obliging employers to enroll workers in social security.
“The proportion of work-related accidents reported to the IMSS among agricultural workers increased from 6% in 2000 to 35% in 2024,” the report states.
Government Ambiguity and Impunity
Despite these alarming statistics, the Mexican government maintains institutional ambiguity regarding which level of government should oversee these employment practices. This uncertainty creates a void that perpetuates impunity, leaving jornaleras vulnerable to exploitation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What percentage of agricultural workers in Mexico lack written contracts? Approximately 90%
- What are the common working conditions faced by jornaleras? Informality, violence, and precarious working conditions are common.
- What security social benefits do most agricultural workers lack? 86.6% of agricultural workers in Mexico do not have access to security social benefits.
- What illegal practices do employers often engage in? Employers may provide temporary medical passes following workplace accidents, avoiding enrollment in social security.
- Why is government ambiguity a problem? It creates a void that perpetuates impunity, leaving jornaleras vulnerable to exploitation.
