The Government of Mexico and the United Nations have launched the Steering Committee for the joint programme “Transformation of Agrifood Systems in Mexico: Towards Comprehensive Social Protection and Decent Rural Employment.” Supported by the Joint SDG Fund, the initiative aims to improve the working and living conditions of agricultural wage workers while strengthening their access to labor and social protection rights. The programme is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, and involves key national institutions including the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare, the Mexican Social Security Institute, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, and representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations.
The initiative aligns with Mexico’s national strategy to guarantee the constitutional rights of agricultural wage workers, recognizing their essential role in ensuring food sovereignty and supporting rural economies. At the launch, Lina Pohl, FAO Representative in Mexico, highlighted that approximately 2.3 million agricultural wage workers urgently need access to fair and decent working conditions, which is central to building sustainable agrifood systems. Irvin Rojas from the Secretariat of Agriculture emphasized the programme’s role in improving rural workers’ access to healthcare, education, and housing, while Jorge Ríos Vadillo from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare underlined the importance of social dialogue to formalize employment and protect workers’ rights.
The programme focuses on four priority areas. First, it aims to strengthen data and evidence through tools such as the National Survey of Occupation and Employment and the Agricultural Census to better understand the needs of agricultural wage workers. Second, it seeks to assess policies on formalization and social protection to evaluate their effectiveness and impact. Third, it engages medium- and large-scale producers to promote improved working conditions across agricultural value chains. Finally, it works on advancing institutional coordination, aligning strategies and actions across government entities and social partners. Through these efforts, public institutions, international organizations, employers, workers, and civil society collaborate to build a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable agrifood model in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Agricultural wage workers are a critical yet vulnerable part of Mexico’s agrifood systems, which account for one in every three jobs in the country. An estimated 90 percent of these workers are employed informally, earning an average monthly income of around USD 160. Women face particularly acute challenges, often migrating with their children for seasonal work under precarious conditions, and represent 13 percent of agricultural wage workers. Indigenous communities make up 23 percent of the workforce. By addressing these structural challenges through integrated policy, data, and partnership approaches, the programme aims to ensure that those who sustain Mexico’s food systems can access dignity, protection, and opportunity.
