Mexico moves to outlaw ageism in labor market with new law proposal

Mexico faces a demographic shift as the State of Mexico is projected to have one of the highest shares of older adults by 2030. Labor economist Miguel Ángel Barrera González warned that age‑based discrimination – “ageism” – is becoming a major challenge, with workers aged 35 and older encountering difficulty changing jobs or re‑entering the market despite representing a large share of the workforce.

In response, Deputy Adriana Belinda Quiroz Gallegos (Morena) has introduced a bill to amend the Federal Labor Law. The proposal would add an explicit definition of ageism to article 3 Bis, ban age‑based hiring limits, and require inclusive hiring, training, and promotion practices for workers over 40. The initiative has been referred to the Human Rights and Labor and Social Welfare committees and still awaits further legislative approval.