Labor requirements for export
Michoacán certifies formal employment in avocado farming
The state government certified 125 companies in the sector to guarantee workers' access to social security and legal benefits.
November 6, 2026
The government of the state of Michoacán certified for the first time 125 avocado exporting and packing companies in formal employment, seeking to guarantee access for orchard workers to social security and legal benefits.
The announcement was made on October 7, 2026 by Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, and it adds to a series of phytosanitary, environmental and security controls that Mexico has promoted around the export avocado industry.
What exactly does the new labor seal certify?
The certification, granted by the Michoacán Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS), covers the entire agricultural value chain of avocados, from harvesting in the orchard to packing for export.
According to Undersecretary Quia Chávez Domínguez, the seal guarantees that workers in certified companies are formally registered with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), thus obtaining access to medical care, pensions, and other legal benefits.
This measure is presented as a complement to, but not a substitute for, the phytosanitary and traceability controls that are already requirements of the export protocol to the United States, administered jointly with the USDA and the Mexican Senasica inspection program.
Who's behind it: APEAM, Udecam and the state government
The 125 companies currently holding the certification are affiliated with the two leading avocado export organizations in Michoacán: the Association of Avocado Producers and Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) and the Union of Avocado Packers and Marketers of Michoacán (Udecam). Both organizations represent packers authorized to ship fruit to the U.S. market, the primary buyer of Mexican avocados for export.
Governor Ramírez Bedolla frames this measure within the context of industry competitiveness. He argues that if Michoacán demands higher labor standards from its avocado industry, international competitors should assume comparable production costs, especially if they are competing for the same export markets.
What does this mean for international buyers and exporters?
The Labor Certificate for Agro-exports is mandatory for avocado exports starting October 1, 2026, and is being implemented through a phased pilot program. As of October 16, the Michoacán Ministry of Economic Development reported that 125 companies in the state had obtained it in the first phase, which focused on registering exporters and submitting information about their operations.
The next step will be to gradually incorporate employer registrations with the IMSS starting in January 2027. As the program progresses, social security coverage among those who work in the orchards, harvesting, and packing will allow us to assess whether the requirement translates into more formal employment in the export chain.
