Mexico Advances Digital Inclusion for People with Disabilities

Mexican lawmakers proposed reforms to ensure digital access for people with disabilities, aiming to expand employment, justice, and civic participation in virtual environments.

Digital transformation in public services, education, employment, justice, and civic participation has created barriers that increase inequality and conflict with principles of accessibility, equality, and autonomy, says PVEM Deputy Carlos Guevara.

The proposed reforms to the General Law for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities aim to ensure equitable access to technology, digital services, and online employment. The initiative updates Articles 2, 5, 6, 11, and 29 to include direct participation, accessible digital environments, and inclusive technology.

The reforms empower the federal executive to promote the participation of people with disabilities in public, political, and social life. The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) would ensure that remote workspaces, digital employment platforms, and virtual selection processes are accessible through adaptive technology, accessible formats, and personalized support.

Authorities would also be required to provide digital justice access, including virtual hearings, electronic notifications, and platforms adapted for sensory, cognitive, or psychosocial disabilities.

Data from the 2024 Labor Inclusion Index for People With Disabilities (IILPCD) shows that companies implementing formal hiring policies for people with disabilities report up to 30% higher profit margins, 28% more revenue, and double the net income compared to firms without inclusion strategies. 

Companies with inclusive practices also achieve lower turnover and higher productivity, with retention among employees with disabilities averaging just 1.27%, compared to 10% in companies without specific policies, reports MBN.