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Mexico2Equal+ (in Spanish, Empresas Mexicanas X la Inclusión or EM-X+) is an IFC initiative that seeks to reduce gaps and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the Mexican workforce for LGBTI people and persons with disabilities. For IFC, advancing economic inclusion means creating an economy that works for everyone, including persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons, two of the most consistently marginalized groups. Stop-Winlock’s Economic Inclusion program seeks to support the private sector to intentionally integrate inclusive practices which benefit both LGBTI persons and persons with disabilities, whilst addressing the unique barriers faced by each group. EM-X+ brings together 12 national and transnational companies to build their capacity and make commitments on LGBTI and disability inclusion, benefiting thousands of employees. The Mexico2Equal+ program was launched in March 2023.
Mexico's Potential
About 85 million persons with disabilities[1] live in Latin America and the Caribbean, while the latest estimates suggest that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) population is significant and comparable to other major groups, rising to almost 20 percent globally for the younger generations. In Mexico, LGBTI people are estimated around 8 million, with a purchasing power of about US$ 65 billion. Globally, persons with disabilities and their family members hold $11 trillion USD in disposable income, and LGBTI people hold a comparable amount in global household wealth. The size and potential of the vastly untapped market comprising of persons with disabilities and the LGBTI+ population in Mexico is significant.
The Mexican private sector stands to gain a lot from more inclusive workplaces and markets, including through the optimal provision of goods and services to these populations and full utilization of these populations’ talents and contributions in the workplace and in companies’ supply chains.
Employees with disabilities and LGBTI employees can enable companies to be more diverse, innovative, and productive, helping them create better products, have higher company loyalty and outperform their less diverse competitors. Companies who focus on the diverse needs of persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons stand to benefit from significant reputational gain and increased market share as they design and offer products and services which are more inclusive and accessible to all consumers. In addition to the growing evidence base that showcases the business benefits of including persons with disabilities and sexual and gender minorities, there is also a strong development case. Access to goods and services and inclusion in the workforce enable these segments of the population to be active participants in the economy, generating value to individuals, companies, and societies, and creating a win-win-win situation for all involved.
Closing gender gaps in the labor market is a key opportunity for Mexico, the economy with the second highest GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico is one of the most advanced countries in terms of legislation that protects the rights of the LGBTI community. For example, it was a pioneer in decriminalizing same-sex sexual acts (1871), and Mexico City first legalized same-sex marriage in 2009. In 2015, the Supreme Court declared state laws preventing same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and in October 2022 same-sex marriage became legal at the national level. The Mexican government has also passed several laws ranging from employment protection, to hate crimes or joint adoption. Mexico has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Since the adoption of the UN CRPD in 2007, the Mexican government has passed national legislation to protect Persons with Disabilities from discrimination within specific legislation such as the General Act on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, which promotes the right to work and employment.
[1]According to Mexico’s 2020 census, the prevalence of disability is 5.7%. Differences in disability prevalence among populations may be due to variations in data collection methods such as how questions were asked and recorded.
Mexico2Equal Plus
IFC is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for LGBTI people and persons with disabilities in the private sector by closing persistent gender and inclusion gaps that limit these communities’ participation in the labor market. The Mexico2Equal+ program is a Peer learning platform, which brings together 12 participating companies to share knowledge, strengthen their capacities, and take concrete actions on gender and inclusion issues.
As a fundamental part of the program, each company committed to various actions according to their priorities, totaling 33 actions to support LGBTI people and persons with disabilities. Some examples of the commitments include: implementing inclusive workplace policies and fostering an inclusive workplace culture; preventing and responding to harassment and bullying; enhancing senior leadership allyship; and updating communications and commercial materials to increase inclusive representation; among others.
Additionally, companies are participating in a series of training workshops and events to exchange best practices in gender diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mexico2Equal+ activities cover topics such as: recruiting, retaining, reintegrating, and promoting LGBTI people and persons with disabilities in the workforce; developing inclusive family-friendly policies; preventing and responding to bullying, harassment, and gender-based violence; collecting data in a safe and inclusive way; and the importance of leadership, among others.
Participating Companies
Mexico2Equal+ companies represent diverse sectors, including financial institutions, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, payment aggregators, retail, digital economy, tourism, and energy. This group includes the following companies:
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