Corruption Puts Quintana Roo Businesses at Risk

Cancún — Business owners in Quintana Roo face a growing threat that could lead to the collapse of their enterprises: multi-million peso bank account seizures resulting from fabricated labor lawsuits. This occurs amidst a landscape already marked by "derecho de piso" extortion payments and municipal permitting processes with exorbitant costs.

This systematic collusion increases the private sector's vulnerability and jeopardizes the local economy. Complaints from affected parties reveal a corruption scheme involving clerical staff from the Conciliation and Arbitration Boards, alongside the presidents of these bodies and, allegedly, officials from the Secretariat of Labor.

The scheme includes claims from non-existent workers with inflated salaries, which allows for the immediate execution of multi-million peso judgments without a real opportunity for defense.

"This is not just legalized robbery; it is a time bomb for SMEs that are already struggling to survive," anonymous business owners warn.

The risk is aggravated by existing pressures: extortion from organized crime demanding "protection" payments and municipal bureaucracy that imposes disproportionate fees for permits and procedures, eroding profit margins.

This triple threat—extortion, high administrative costs, and manipulated labor trials—could deter investments and trigger mass closures, with a consequent impact on thousands of jobs in a region dependent on tourism and commerce.

Labor law experts warn that this institutional corruption not only violates the rule of law but also creates a climate of legal insecurity that deters national and international investors.

"Business owners are in a death trap; without urgent intervention, Quintana Roo could face a business exodus," they state.