Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Businesses in Quintana Roo that employ minors, particularly in high-risk environments, could face fines of up to 500,000 pesos under a new crackdown announced by the state’s labor department.
Veronica Salinas Mozo, head of the Quintana Roo Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STyPS), said the fines are based on Mexico’s Federal Labor Law and range from 50 to 5,000 Units of Measurement and Update (UMA), which currently equates to a maximum of about 500,000 pesos.
The measure aims to protect the health, safety, and education of adolescents in the state.
Bars and Restaurants: High-Risk Zones
Salinas Mozo identified bars and restaurants as the establishments where child labor is most frequently detected. These environments are considered dangerous for minors and detrimental to their development.
“First, we must take preventive measures and notify them that for a minor, these are risky places that interfere with their health, life, and education,” Salinas Mozo explained.
If a business is found to be employing a minor, authorities will remove the child immediately and impose the fine. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties.
Inspection Results in 2026
Although no formal complaints have been filed so far in 2026, the STyPS remains vigilant following cases in 2025. Last year, the department handled at least two critical complaints that led to verification orders and the rescue of adolescents from their workplaces.
The department is urging the public to anonymously report any cases of child labor in commercial establishments to help protect children’s rights in Quintana Roo.
