Nearly 30% of Working Women in Mexico Face Precarious Jobs

Nearly 30% of women in Mexico work in vulnerable employment, including agriculture, domestic labor, and public-sector roles, often without formal contracts, social security coverage, or stable wages. Persistent wage gaps, workplace harassment, and digital violence expose female workers to economic and social risks, affecting labor productivity and compliance costs for businesses. Recent legal reforms, labor tools like CACEH’s Dignómetro, and enforcement initiatives in environmental and public sectors aim to improve protections, highlighting the need for companies and regulators to integrate gender-focused policies across informal and formal employment sectors.

Nearly three out of 10 women in Mexico work in vulnerable employment, highlighting persistent labor inequalities despite recent legal reforms and policy initiatives. According to World Bank data, 28.5% of female workers are in jobs lacking formal contracts, stable income, and social security benefits, placing Mexico below only Peru, Guatemala, and Colombia in regional comparisons.

“Women agricultural workers are pillars of Mexico’s economy and food security, but their contribution remains overshadowed by precarious labor conditions,” says the Red de Mujeres por el Trabajo Justo in its January 2026 report Sembrando el Cambio. The report found that 48% of female farmworkers live in multidimensional poverty, while informal recruitment leaves most without written contracts or proper social security coverage. Wage gaps persist, with women earning an average of MX$201 (US$12.68) daily compared with MX$228 for men performing similar roles.

Beyond agriculture, domestic workers, a workforce of more than two million predominantly female workers, remain largely informal, with fewer than 5% enrolled in the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). The National Center for Professional Training and Leadership of Domestic Workers (CACEH) recently launched the Dignómetro, a diagnostic tool measuring whether employment meets minimum standards for contracts, pay, benefits, and protection from harassment. Marcelina Bautista, founder, CACEH, explains that the tool allows workers and employers to identify when rights are at risk and where labor conditions are inadequate.

Policy Reforms and Workplace Protections

Policy reforms have sought to address these gaps. The Mexican Senate expanded sexual abuse laws after the assault on President Claudia Sheinbaum, broadening definitions, strengthening penalties, and introducing rehabilitation programs. The reforms define sexual acts performed without consent—including coercion, intimidation, or abuse of trust—as punishable offenses, with prison terms of three to seven years plus community or rehabilitation measures. These changes respond to high rates of gender-based violence, with nearly 50% of women over 15 reporting sexual abuse, and 94% of incidents going unreported.

Workplace violence also affects public and environmental sectors. SEMARNAT and CONANP are implementing forums, protocols, and affirmative actions to foster inclusive labor environments and prevent harassment and discrimination. Pedro Álvarez, Commissioner, CONANP, described the initiatives as a call to rethink institutional hierarchies and embed care at the center of workplace policies. Mexico ratified the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190 in 2022, reinforcing international commitments to protect workers from gender-based violence.

Digital Threats and the Role of Technology

Digital spaces have emerged as another critical front. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UNICEF and other organizations highlighted rising online harassment, deepfake pornography, and political targeting affecting women and girls. According to INEGI, 22% of female internet users have experienced digital abuse, often beginning between ages 14 and 16. Platforms like ELSA use AI-driven diagnostics to track harassment patterns, reduce workplace and digital violence, and strengthen prevention strategies, illustrating both the opportunities and risks of technology in tackling abuse.

Despite progress, challenges persist. Informal work, entrenched gender stereotypes, unpaid care responsibilities, and limited enforcement of labor and social protections continue to place women at economic and social risk. Experts emphasize that legal reforms, technological tools, and advocacy efforts must converge to ensure policy translates into substantive improvements in labor conditions and protection from violence.