Mexico implements labor certification for avocado exporters

Mexico's Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) is implementing the Labor Certificate for Agro-exportation (CLA) to formalize agricultural workers. Starting in the second week of September, avocado exporters must prove they provide dignified work and social security to their staff. This initiative, part of the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice, aims to formalize approximately 200,000 agricultural laborers.

The certification process will be managed through the VELAGRO digital platform, and compliance must be declared via the Single Window for Foreign Trade. All entities in the supply chain, including producers, packing houses, and intermediaries, must demonstrate that workers are affiliated with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and receive legal benefits.

The measure follows a Senate reform to the Federal Labor Law and aligns with labor obligations under the T-MEC agreement. While avocado is the first product targeted, the scheme is expected to expand to berries, tomatoes, and asparagus. This comes as avocado exports to the United States showed a 35 percent growth in the first four months of 2026 compared to the previous year.