Three museums remain under private security

Daniel López Aguilar

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, June 6, 2025, p. 5

After days of tension and darkened halls, the museums of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico City began reopening yesterday, mostly with the return of members of the Mexico City Auxiliary Police.

The resumption of activities at least partially ended the disruption caused by a change in the surveillance model.

As La Jornada documented, the contract awarded on June 1 to SSS Assistance and Supervision SA de CV and Practical Systems in Private Security SA de CV generated an immediate reaction.

At the National Museum of World Cultures, a union representative explained that it was possible to reopen with trained personnel, since those who wanted to impose on us didn't know what to guard or how to react .

Several school groups were already scheduled. The students were able to enter, and the classrooms were able to breathe again. The initial staff was five; later, 11 arrived, but only five were actually on duty.

The National Museum of Interventions underwent a similar process. The reopening was completed with the return of 10 trained security guards.

A school thanked us. They were afraid they would find the museum closed. Today we gave them back that certainty , said one worker, who also called for the dismissal of the INAH security chief, whom she blames for bidding with an inexperienced firm.

At Chapultepec Castle, the National History Museum opened with between 35 and 40 reinstatement personnel. The new guards didn't know what to do. They weren't familiar with the space , said staff members.

At the Templo Mayor, the changeover took place on Wednesday. Until then, only seven company personnel covered the site. It was insufficient. Today we have a more adequate workforce , said one worker.

However, three cultural spaces remain under private surveillance: the National Museum of the Viceroyalty in Tepotzotlán, State of Mexico, as well as El Carmen and Casa Carranza, where discontent persists.

At the Viceroyalty farm, which houses a valuable colonial heritage on four hectares, workers are demanding the return of the previous model. "The company's staff is lost. They have no training ," said a union representative.

In El Carmen, the reopening was under protest. "We had to reopen, but we still disagree ," said a worker.

At Casa Carranza, in the Cuauhtémoc borough, only two officers per shift guard one of the Revolution's most important collections.

Alejandro Alegría

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, June 6, 2025, p. 5

The closure of museums in Mexico City only reflects some of the situations facing the private security sector, such as the lack of workers and poor working conditions, said Armando Zúñiga Salinas, president of the United Security Groups for Mexico (ASUME).

Unfortunately, many of these tenders are far removed from operational reality , the business leader told La Jornada.

The budget allocated to these processes is insufficient even to cover a decent salary, much less to provide legal benefits or adequate training , the businessman commented.

There are always companies that participate under these conditions. Most of them are newly established firms, without a solid track record or structure, which is reflected in the low quality of the service they offer , he noted.

Zúñiga, who was president of the Coparmex Business Center in Mexico City, indicated that it is not unusual for these tenders to establish work shifts of up to 24 continuous hours, in open violation of the Federal Labor Law .

According to the award of tender LA-48-D00-048D00001-N-5-2025, the contract to provide security services in museums in Mexico City, as well as in 26 other entities, was awarded to the companies SSS Asistencia y Supervisión SA de CV and Sistemas Prácticos en Seguridad Privada SA de CV, which were to begin operating on June 1st and conclude on December 31st of this year, replacing the Auxiliary Police.

Zúñiga emphasized that the sector is also facing a personnel crisis, as there are thousands of vacancies across the country and it is increasingly difficult to find people willing to work in private security, especially when salaries are low and there are no benefits or real opportunities for development .

For museums located in Mexico City alone, the INAH indicated that a minimum of 136 security personnel and a maximum of 296 were required.