The evolution of support for non-wage earners during the pandemic
On 21 April 2020, it was published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City that 4,264 non-salaried workers would be granted basic economic support in a single payment to cope with the health emergency.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion (STyFE) had the possibility to launch this programme, due to the registration it has as it is in charge of granting work licenses. That is why they decided to grant it to 4,264 people with valid or pending credentials and for whom a budget of 6,396,000 pesos was earmarked.
However, from this fixed universe, it would be necessary to subtract people who, although fulfil the licence requirement, do not reside in Mexico City.
According to the Official Gazette, the justification is to mitigate the economic consequences for non-salaried workers resulting from measures adopted by the Mexico City Government to mitigate the damage to citizens' health. These economic consequences are also suffered by non-wage earners who work in Mexico City but live in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico.
One of the workers said: "I have already been to the internet café 3 times today, to scan documents and send emails, many internet cafés are closed, how are those who cannot read or write and who cannot afford the internet café going to do it? I also sent an email to one of the addresses provided and never got an answer, and it wasn't until I sent an email to the other address that I received a reply.
Then another discontent arose, "what are we going to get 1,500 pesos for during the whole quarantine", asked another of the workers. Which was true, considering that the minimum monthly wage in Mexico is 3,746 pesos, the income received would be tight enough to cover all their basic needs and those of their families, although of course, getting that amount is much better than having nothing at all.
Fortunately, there were changes from the STyFE, which facilitated the application and favoured non-salaried workers.
On the one hand, on May 13, 2020, the Modifying Agreement to the Emergency Support for Non-Salaried Workers was published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City, which among other points, includes that the support will be given in two monthly instalments, that is, two monthly payments of MXN 1,500, which gives a total of MXN 3,000 for two months. This will help unpaid workers to have more income to subsist on than originally planned.
On the other hand, the possibility of doing the procedure in person, with a healthy distance, was opened, thus giving more unpaid workers the opportunity to present their application and access the benefit if they meet all the requirements.
Source: Mejores Empleos
Writter: Tania Espinosa
Link: https://www.mejoresempleos.com.mx/articulos/evolucion-apoyo-trabajadores-no-asalariados/?fbclid=IwAR3SkuvX9mlWM0dVKkQIQwB7cAVB-6uNSPO1t2GSy8XMkoTUp-ppmoA7mIY