Politics · Mexico · 2 hrs ago
Mexico’s app-work reform faces challenges in expanding social security
A review in Mexico says the digital-platform work reform faces four implementation challenges 15 months after its rules took effect.
The reform concerns social security coverage for app-based drivers and couriers, including workers for Uber, DiDi and Rappi.
During the pilot, some workers risked losing access to planned care at another health institution after joining the Mexican Social Security Institute, or IMSS.
Experts say health institutions need to coordinate so IMSS enrollment does not block workers from care they already had.
They also say workers need clearer explanations of how the reform works in practice and what its rules mean.
The review says the reform’s wider impact needs recognition, including its potential to provide extra income and access to social security.
Experts also point to flexibility as a key benefit, since workers can choose when, how and where they work.
Mexico’s digital-platform reform faces four challenges in expanding social security coverage for app-based drivers and delivery workers.
The challenges include coordinating health institutions, explaining the rules, raising awareness of the reform’s impact and communicating the flexibility of platform work.
A technical review presented at a workshop convened by Alianza In examined implementation problems 15 months after the rules took effect.
One issue arose when workers feared that IMSS affiliation could jeopardize planned treatment through another public health institution.
Specialists said workers’ new access to social security should not cause them to lose existing health services.
- Who
- App-based drivers and delivery workers, alongside specialists reviewing the reform.
- What
- Mexico’s digital-platform reform faces four challenges in implementation, particularly around IMSS coverage.
- When
- The review was presented 15 months after the rules took effect; the article was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Mexico. The review was presented at a workshop convened by Alianza In.
- Why
- To ensure workers can access social security and health care without losing existing services, and to clarify the reform’s rules and benefits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The digital-platform reform’s rules took effect.
A technical review of the reform’s implementation challenges was reported after being presented at a workshop convened by Alianza In.
- Implementation period
- 15 months after the rules took effect
- Main challenges
- Four
- Coverage at issue
- IMSS social security for app-based drivers and delivery workers
- Platforms named
- Uber, DiDi and Rappi
- Review venue
- Workshop convened by Alianza In
What people are saying
From the technical side, we see four main challenges for the digital-platform reform.
There needs to be a more technical and practical understanding of how the reform works beyond the narrative.
The most valuable element, perhaps, is that the flexibility of this model lets a person decide when, how and where they work.