Mexico City Launches Campaign on Construction Workers’ Rights

Mexico City’s labor authority has launched a public campaign to promote labor rights among construction workers, amid continued informality in the sector and broader pressures on the regional construction workforce tied to economic cycles and migration trends.

The Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (STyFE) says that the initiative seeks to raise awareness among workers and employers about legal obligations under federal labor law, as the construction industry remains a major source of employment but also one of the most exposed to low wages, informal work, and weak labor protections.

“In construction, dignity at work begins with knowing and enforcing rights,” says Inés González, Minister of Labor and Employment Promotion for Mexico City. She adds that the campaign is intended both to inform workers of their rights and to call on companies to comply with obligations established in the Federal Labor Law.

The campaign, titled Las manos que construyen la Ciudad tienen derechos (The hands that build the city have rights), began circulating in January across public spaces in Mexico City, including screens, platforms, and train cars in the capital’s Metro system, as well as billboards and digital displays along major roadways. According to STyFE, the messaging focuses on formal employment, workplace safety, and access to social security.

The initiative comes as construction continues to play a central role in Mexico’s economy while facing structural labor challenges. In Mexico City alone, more than 200,000 people work in construction, according to STyFE. Official data cited by the agency show that 83.1% of workers in the sector fall within the lowest wage brackets, while more than 60% lack formal employment status or written contracts. These conditions leave workers with limited access to benefits, social security, and legal recourse in the event of disputes.

González says that the city’s labor authority is complementing the campaign with employer training to support compliance and reduce labor conflicts, as well as inspections at job sites. The agency has also opened a dedicated hotline to provide legal advice and support to construction workers seeking assistance.

Under Mexican law, construction workers are entitled to written contracts, timely payment of wages, rest periods during the workday, limits on daily working hours, enrollment in social security, and the right to unionize. Employers are also required to provide tools and protective equipment, including helmets, safety footwear, eye protection, respiratory masks, and harnesses for work at height, to reduce occupational risks.

The emphasis on labor rights coincides with a period of transition for the broader construction sector. According to ResearchAndMarkets, Mexico’s construction industry is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.6% between 2026 and 2029, supported by planned investments in transportation and energy infrastructure. Federal development plans include more than MX$1.2 trillion in rail and road projects, while private residential construction has remained resilient amid a gradual recovery in bank lending.

Construction contributes about 7% of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP), though performance has been uneven. BBVA Research reports that the sector contracted in mid-2025, with construction GDP falling 1.1% year over year, driven largely by a reduction in public infrastructure spending. A 12.6% real cut in federal funding for public works resulted in a sharp decline in civil construction activity and the loss of roughly 200,000 jobs, as formal employment fell to about 1.7 million positions.

While analysts expect a gradual recovery beginning in 2026, supported by a proposed increase in the public infrastructure budget, labor availability remains a concern. Private residential construction has continued to expand, but employment generation has lagged, highlighting persistent gaps between project demand and workforce conditions.

Labor dynamics in construction are also being shaped by developments beyond Mexico’s borders. In the United States, stricter immigration enforcement has raised concerns about labor shortages in construction, a sector that relies heavily on foreign-born workers. Industry groups and economists have warned that mass deportations and tighter controls could drive up labor costs, delay projects, and increase pressure on supply chains.

Although the STyFE campaign focuses on Mexico City, labor specialists note that workforce instability in North America can influence regional labor markets, particularly in border states and metropolitan areas with strong construction demand. Rising costs, increased competition for skilled labor, and shifts in migration patterns could reinforce the need for formalization and improved working conditions in Mexico’s construction industry.

Within Mexico, authorities have increasingly linked labor rights enforcement to productivity, safety, and long-term sector sustainability. Informal employment, while widespread, is associated with higher accident rates, lower skill development, and reduced tax and social security contributions. By contrast, formal labor arrangements are viewed as a mechanism to stabilize employment, support training, and align the workforce with large-scale infrastructure plans.

STyFE says its campaign is part of a broader effort to strengthen labor protections through the city’s labor defense institutions, including the Office of the Labor Defense Attorney. The agency adds that it will continue outreach and inspections in construction sites across the capital as projects linked to housing, transportation, and urban development advance.

As Mexico prepares for renewed public and private investment in construction, city officials argue that ensuring labor rights is not only a legal obligation but also a condition for sustaining growth in a sector that remains central to employment and economic activity.