Mexico Recovers 543M Pesos in Unpaid Worker Profits

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (STyPS) in Quintana Roo has issued a total of 1,600 formal notices to companies for noncompliance with mandatory profit-sharing payments, according to state labor chief Verónica Salinas Muñoz. Authorities have recovered approximately 543 million pesos ($27.2 million USD) in unpaid profit distributions for workers who filed complaints.

Enforcement Timeline and Administrative Actions

Salinas confirmed that audits for corporate entities concluded on May 30, while reviews for individual taxpayers ended June 30. The compliance campaign has resulted in 34 active administrative sanction proceedings, which typically require two and a half months to resolve.

“We continue verifying profit-sharing payments. The deadline for corporations was May 15, and for individual taxpayers, it was June. From these audits, we have about 34 ongoing proceedings where companies must submit documentation they failed to provide during initial inspections,” Salinas stated.

Penalties and Scope of Obligation

Noncompliant businesses face fines ranging from 250 to 5,000 Units of Measurement and Update (UMAs), equivalent to 25,000–500,000 pesos ($1,250–$25,000 USD). An estimated 21,000 companies in Quintana Roo are legally required to distribute profits to nearly 500,000 eligible workers.

Sectors with Highest Violations

The majority of complaints involve small businesses, particularly in the tourism sector. Some firms have yet to submit required fiscal clarification documents, though in certain cases, companies recorded profits but will defer distributions until the next fiscal year.

Constitutional Right for Workers

Salinas emphasized that profit-sharing constitutes a constitutional right for Mexican workers, entitling them to a percentage of their employer’s annual earnings derived from commercial activities or services.