Mérida, Yucatán — More than 1.1 million people in Yucatán, or 66% of the state’s working-age population, lack the right to decent work, according to the latest report from the Observatory of Decent Work (OTD) of Citizen Action Against Poverty.
The figure includes both those excluded from the labor market and those who are employed but face precarious conditions such as lack of social security, low income, unstable contracts, and little union representation.
According to the OTD’s Report 29, 343,000 people in Yucatán are in labor exclusion. Of these, 98,000 are unemployed — either because they looked for work in the week before the survey or because they are available for work without any impediment. This represents a complete unemployment rate of 8%.
Another 245,000 people cannot enter the labor market because they perform unpaid care work at home. Gender inequality is particularly stark: 232,000 of those excluded due to care work — 95% — are women. Together, those outside the labor market due to care responsibilities account for 14% of the state’s working-age population.
The observatory argues that expanding public care services — such as childcare centers, extended-hours schools, disability centers, and day centers for the elderly — is necessary to facilitate women’s economic inclusion.
Among those who do work, 782,000 people (64% of the employed) lack social security. Additionally, 763,000 workers (65% of the employed) earn less than what is needed to buy two basic food baskets. Within this group, 251,000 reported zero income. Citizen Action Against Poverty noted that this figure may reflect inconsistencies in the National Occupation and Employment Survey and announced it will present a Salary Thermometer based on data from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) for a more accurate picture.
Union representation is scarce: 724,000 salaried workers — 90% — lack collective bargaining representation. Furthermore, 412,000 workers (51% of salaried employees) lack a stable contract.
Yucatán’s indicators are slightly better than the national average in some areas but worse in others. Nationally, 69% of the working-age population lacks decent work, compared to 66% in Yucatán. The national unemployment rate is 10%, versus 8% in the state. Exclusion due to care work is 17% nationally and 14% in Yucatán.
However, Yucatán exceeds national averages in other indicators: 64% of employed people lack social security (vs. 61% nationally), 65% lack sufficient income for two basic baskets (vs. 62%), and 90% of salaried workers lack collective bargaining representation (vs. 86% nationally).
Report 29 of the Observatory of Decent Work compiles nine indicators from official statistical information to identify deficiencies in the exercise of the right to decent work.
