OECD: job insecurity prevails in the tourism sector

Mexico City. Long working days, minimal income and long hours on public transport to get to their workplaces are the conditions faced by most workers in the tourism sector, who during their shifts must deal with the mood of vacationers or national and international travelers, say specialists consulted by The Day and global economic institutions.

A large part of the workers in hotel consortiums located throughout the country, especially those in beach destinations or those that receive business people or so-called business tourism, survive on tips and their wages are usually used for transportation and food, they say.

At best, the vast majority of the tourism sector’s workforce can work up to seven months a year, but in most of the country, the average length of employment is five months and most of their official income goes towards paying for transportation, accommodation and food.

This situation is not exclusive to Mexico, as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has identified it worldwide, which is why it has recommended a series of actions that large companies should implement to improve the work environment and also retain human talent.

The local situation

Ignacio Martínez, coordinator of the UNAM Laboratory for Analysis of Commerce, Economy and Business (Lacen), explains in an interview the situation faced by workers in the tourism sector.

“The year has 12 months, but in the vast majority of cases, such as in northern Mexico, hotel consortiums receive a constant flow of workers only in five months, meaning that the employment of maids, bellboys, receptionists, cooks and chefs, among a large number of people, is temporary.

“If we think about the south, specifically the Caribbean or the Riviera Maya, the flow of tourists is constant for months and that is the time that people have jobs, in addition to these large complexes called all inclusivethere are gardeners, maintenance staff, and we are only talking about direct jobs,” said the expert.

We can say that workers in the tourism sector are those who have the most precarious conditions, because they receive a minimum wage and have to travel, in most cases, on journeys of two hours or more, and food must be added.

Large complexes, in remote locations

The latest OECD report on Tourism trends and policies 2024 It indicates that globally “tourism activity tends to take place in seasonal or remote locations, which can limit other economic opportunities.

Tourist destinations developed to meet the needs of tourists alone may lack essential community services needed to attract and retain a stable workforce.details the report.

In this regard, Ignacio Martínez explains that “this is one of the biggest problems, and what stands out the most is that the people who work in hotel complexes have to be highly qualified so that the attention to guests is the same as that received in developed countries.

“So they are people who have a high expertise in what they do, but the vast majority only have jobs during the peak vacation season… What is in contrast is that senior managers do have jobs all year round, they are provided with accommodation for up to a month, food and transportation, but the workforce is not.”

In this regard, the OECD points out that “labour competition extends beyond highly qualified workers. There are countries where migrants are an important source of labour, as are international students and working tourists, but this flow of workers was cut off during the 2020 pandemic.

These workers are often more available to respond to seasonal increases in destinations during peak tourism seasons. Attracting these workers back to countries requires horizontal coordination between governments, on visa and other issues.points out the OECD.

Inequalities

The director of Lacen also explains that the wage gaps in the tourism sector are noticeable between workers in business hotel complexes and those in vacation centers, “because the former are where the businessmen who don’t mind ordering a $100 meal for dinner go and leave good tips. But those who work in vacation complexes receive a $5 or $10 tip, but the appreciation of the peso is not taken into account; in recent years the Mexican currency has strengthened, there are fewer tips… That is where the brain drain occurs.”

Some recommendations

In its report, the OECD sets out a series of recommendations that governments and businesses should implement in order to retain talent in the tourism sector, including providing public transport that is tailored to the needs of work shifts; providing access to education and healthcare for dependents; providing childcare that is tailored to the needs of tourism workers’ shift patterns; and community infrastructure more generally to provide tourism workers with opportunities to participate fully.

The impact of tourism on communities often leads to increases in the cost of living, making things more difficult for local residents. To address these issues, it is important to integrate tourism into broader economic and regional development plans and ensure that policymakers consider the needs of individuals and the community when implementing new programs.concludes the OECD.