Eduardo Guadarrama
and Daniel Mondragon
Mexicolectivo
The youth labour market
Youth in Mexico are in a situation of generalized vulnerability in the workplace. Nearly 301% of the national population in Mexico (125 million) are young people between 12 and 29 years old (38 million)[1], who face a labor market with four main problems: labor poverty (very low wages), unemployment (unemployment and underemployment), lack of opportunities in line with university graduate profiles, and precariousness (unworthy working conditions).
In Mexico, 65% of employed people between 15 and 19 years of age earn up to one minimum wage or less, and some do not even receive any remuneration. 40% of young people between 20 and 29 earn one or even two minimum wages, and 36.5% receive up to one minimum wage and, in some cases, less or nothing at all[2].
In addition to low wages, they face a situation where seven out of ten young people between 15 and 24 years of age work in the informal sector, so that labour rights, such as access to social protection and security, as well as access to the pension system, are non-existent and, therefore, exclusive for a large part of the young population[3]. Therefore, maintaining their employment is uncertain and the lack of recognition, mechanisms for enforcing and guaranteeing their rights in the event of dismissal accentuates this situation of vulnerability.
Likewise, the level of unemployment among young people between 15 and 29 years old at a national level is 54%, that is, more than half of the unemployed people[3]. The situation of job insecurity and poor working conditions are the main reasons why 78% of young workers have resigned or lost their jobs[4].
Another factor affecting youth with higher education is the difficulty in finding work related to their professional profile. According to the latest National Survey of Graduates prepared by the University of the Valley of Mexico (UVM), 49.71% of those who managed to access and graduate from higher education work in jobs that have little or nothing to do with their professional profiles. This shows that in Mexico there is an overqualification for a certain population group within the youth, which is why a restructuring of the educational, economic and labor market model is necessary.
Night City: Towards a Collective Agenda
Mexicolectivo, a non-partisan and non-profit civil association, has promoted a collective and plural conversation that resulted in an unprecedented agenda: Ciudad Nocturna. It consists of more than 30 proposals aimed at improving nightlife conditions, including labor rights, for all people in Mexico City and with the possibility of being replicated in other cities in the country.
This agenda seeks to promote, for example, nocturnal economic activity, accompanied by 24-hour public transportation, lighting, security, cultural promotion, labor rights, among others.
Promoting the night-time economy would bring job opportunities to all people, especially to young people. A 24-hour city opens the possibility for private initiative and the government to provide their services during the night, thus allowing the hiring of new workers for night shifts, with rights, inclusion and peace. The Night City is an opportunity for the development of Mexico City and for the country.
For example, in the United Kingdom the night-time economy generates 1.3 million jobs, while in Australia it is associated with more than 25% of jobs[5]. In this sense, Mexico has a large area of opportunity to encourage nightlife and for citizens to participate in the benefits that it brings.
As mentioned above, young people receive low wages, are in informal employment and generally face constant violations of their labor rights. This situation worsens at nightfall. In addition, it is essential to work collectively to obtain sufficient information on the number of young people who work during these hours and their conditions.
For this reason, Mexicolectivo also includes in its night agenda the promotion of guaranteeing a series of labor rights that are a priority in order to create job offers at night with fair and expanded social protection given the nature of the circumstances that arise during this time. Among the proposals of the Night City Agenda are:
● The ratification of Convention 171 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) by the Mexican State to guarantee the rights of workers with night shifts.
● The creation of Night Nurseries for the care of the children of parents and caregivers who work night shifts.
● The promotion of the Tips Law to prevent systemic tip theft by employers in the restaurant, hotel and similar sectors.
● Recognize nursing work as special work within the Federal Labor Law to expand their labor prerogatives according to the nature of their activities.
● Recognize workers through the application of the Federal Labor Law to provide them with job certainty and security, as well as social security given the constant dangers they face in their work.
Ciudad Nocturna is a living idea that is constantly being updated. Every day more people join the collective demands to improve nighttime conditions. Young people play a fundamental role in the construction of new proposals and the materialization of a Mexico City Nightlife full of opportunities for all people, with a focus on youth.
We invite you to learn about the Ciudad Nocturna Agenda and join Mexicolectivo's efforts for the night we want and deserve.
[1] INEGI, PRESS RELEASE NO. 476/23 AUGUST 10, 2023. P. 1.
[2] INEGI, National Survey of Occupation and Employment, 2023 fourth quarter, interactive data on employed population.
[3] INEGI, National Survey of Occupation and Employment, 2023 fourth quarter, interactive data on unemployed population by age.
[4] INEGI, National Survey of Occupation and Employment, 2023 fourth quarter, interactive data on unemployed population due to unemployment causes.
[5] ASOBARES, 24-HOUR DESTINATIONS, NIGHT ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE MODELS FOR THE NIGHT. Consulted in:
.https://asobares.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECONOMIA-NOCTURNA-PARA-CANDIDATOS._.pdf (May 16, 2024)