The Prerequisites for the Establishment of the Legal Status of Workers in Mexico

Introduction. The establishment of the legal status of workers in Mexico is commonly associated with the adoption of the 1917 Constitution, which enshrined the foundations of labor legislation during the Mexican Revolution. However, the prerequisites for its formation developed throughout Mexican history, including prior to Spanish colonization, during the colonial period, and during the independence era. In both Russian and international historical-legal scholarship, there is still no comprehensive study on this topic. The aim of this research is to analyze the evolution of the legal status of workers in Mexico before the 1910–1917 revolution, identifying the interconnections between socio-economic processes, legislative acts, and the transformation of labor relations.
Materials and Methods. This research employs dialectical, formal-legal, and systemic methods, which enable the integration of theoretical analysis of legal norms with their historical context. The study draws on works by both Russian and foreign authors dedicated to the evolution of labor relations and the legal status of workers in Mexico, as well as on legislative acts and legal treatises including Sentimientos de la Nación (1813), Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana (1814), the Plan de Iguala (1821), Reglamento Provisional Político del Imperio Mexicano (1822), the Constitution of Mexico of 1857, Decreto sobre la libertad del trabajo en la clase de jornaleros (1865), and Estatuto Provisional del Imperio Mexicano (1965). This legal-historical analysis is further enriched by an examination of the socio-economic conditions prevalent in each period.
Research Results. The establishment of the legal status of workers emerged as the outcome of a centuries- long evolutionary process. In the pre-colonial era, labor relations were based on rigid social hierarchies and forced labor. Although the Laws of the Indies formally guaranteed certain rights to indigenous peoples, colonial society inherited many pre-colonial principles, and in practice, the exploitation of the native population persisted. The period of independence in the 19th century abolished the institutions of encomienda and peonage, proclaimed the equality of citizens, yet failed to establish mechanisms for the protection of rights. Legislative initiatives from 1856 to 1910 laid the foundations for regulating labor relations, while the Porfiriato era served as a catalyst for the emerging movement for workers’ rights.
Discussion and Conclusion. The key conclusion of the study is the continuity between the early forms of labor regulation and the provisions of the 1917 Constitution, which ultimately codified the legal status of workers in Mexico. This research confirms that the evolution of labor law in Mexico reflects a synthesis of longstanding traditions and the "spirit of the people." The findings are significant for understanding the genesis of labor rights and offer potential applications in comparative legal studies

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