The IMSS continues the evaluation phase for labor integration
The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has clarified that the pilot test designed for the affiliation of digital platform workers remains active, despite having concluded the period of 180 calendar days stipulated in the reform of the Federal Labor Law. This initiative fundamentally seeks to ensure that collaborators of technological applications and platforms have access to benefits and social security protection.
The legal framework that governs this process was established in the Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on December 24, 2024, which came into force on June 22, 2025. Said regulations grant the IMSS a period of 180 days, from the publication of the general rules, to prepare the initiatives that will define the mechanisms for compliance with these new employer obligations. These proposals will subsequently be submitted to the consideration of the Legislative Branch.
A deadline for structuring, not for conclusion
The organization has been emphatic in pointing out that the end of this legal period does not imply the end of the experimental phase. On the contrary, this period marks the formal beginning of the Institute’s work to determine the technical, operational and administrative elements necessary to implement a robust social security system for this sector. The IMSS Technical Council confirmed that, during those 180 days and based on the results of the pilot test, the corresponding initiatives would be developed.
An interpretation that assumes the immediate closure of the test would contravene, according to the IMSS, the spirit of the reform, whose central objective is to extend protection to app workers. “It is crucial to specify that the completion of the aforementioned period does not mean that the pilot test has come to an end, since until new guidelines are issued, it will continue to be applied for the benefit and protection of the workers in said sector,” the institution indicated in an official statement.
This analytical approach highlights the complexity of labor formalization in the digital economy. The integration of thousands of delivery people, drivers and service providers through platforms requires adjustments in registration systems, calculation of quotas, verification of schedules and definition of work risks, aspects that the pilot test helps to elucidate. Continuing the testing phase allows for stronger data collection and fine-tuning of models before widespread implementation, ensuring the solution is both viable for platforms and fair for workers.
Commitment to universal coverage in the digital era
The institutional commitment focuses on expanding coverage and consolidating the formalization process within the Mexican digital ecosystem. This transition is seen as a crucial step to modernize the labor rights framework and adapt it to the new realities of employment, guaranteeing access to medical services, childcare, pensions and other fundamental benefits for a workforce that has grown exponentially. The success of this process will set an important precedent for the regulation of online work not only in Mexico, but throughout the Latin American region.
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