Tulum Fair Organizer Faces New Complaints Over Unpaid Wages

Tulum, Quintana Roo — A fair organizer in Tulum is facing new allegations of unpaid wages and outstanding bills after additional workers and service providers said they never received the money promised for their work at the event. Complaints against Pedro López Villanueva, known as “Pedrito Loby,” total about 70,000 pesos, according to those who came forward.

Rolando Chumba, of Publitulum Perifoneo, said his company provided promotion and advertising services for the fair and has not been paid for 28 hours of street loudspeaker announcements carried out at various points in the city. He said he requested payment but has not received the agreed amount.

Sergio Mariano, another complainant, said he worked security during the fair’s 10 days and did not receive payment. The group says about 30 people were hired for security duties through a company identified as Seguridad Privada Corporativo Loby Comercial y Ejecutiva. They also allege that minors may have carried out some duties and asked the authorities to review the matter.

One of the complainants, Yes Gutiérrez, asked regulators of private security companies to verify the firm’s operating conditions and determine whether it had the necessary permits and registrations. Gutiérrez also requested a review of whether workers had been hired under Mexican labor law, including social security and employee benefits. The group argued the case should lead to tighter oversight of such companies in Tulum.

Those involved accuse López Villanueva of repeatedly saying that payments would be made or that obligations had already been settled, statements they say do not match their cases. They also said they are aware of alleged similar complaints tied to events he organized previously in Playa del Carmen and other towns, although those accounts would need independent corroboration by authorities.

The workers and suppliers have asked labor, tax and security authorities to investigate both the alleged debts and the legal situation of the company through which they say they were hired, and to decide whether administrative or legal proceedings should be opened. López Villanueva has not publicly responded to the allegations as of this report.