CNTE: $250 Million in Losses from the Sit-In; Businesses at Risk

The recent protests and sit-in by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) in Mexico City caused economic losses estimated at 250 million pesos , according to CANACO CDMX , which warns of the risk of closure for some of the more than 16,000 affected businesses .

The recent lifting of the CNTE sit-in protest that lasted more than 20 days in Mexico City's Zócalo has left considerable economic consequences for the capital's commercial sector . According to a report by the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Mexico City (Canaco CDMX) , the teacher protests caused an estimated 250 million pesos in lost sales , affecting thousands of businesses and putting some at risk of permanent closure .

This economic impact underscores the toll that prolonged social unrest can take on the formal economy , especially for small and medium-sized businesses struggling to stay afloat .

Vicente Gutiérrez Camposeco , president of Canaco CDMX , explained that the figure of 250 million pesos corresponds only to the value of sales that could not be completed during the period in which the protests and the teachers' camp lasted in the first square of the city .

The report states that:

• More than 16,800 economic units located mainly in the Historic Center area were directly affected .
• Some initial reports mentioned even higher impact figures, with up to 30,000 businesses and losses of 25 billion pesos , although the 250 million figure appears to be Canaco 's most consistent estimate for unrealized sales .
• The hardest hit sectors were restaurants , general commerce and tourism services , including hotels and travel agencies , which saw a drastic decrease in the influx of visitors .

"The economic impact is only in lost sales... the damage to the infrastructure of buildings and businesses has yet to be accounted for." – Vicente Gutiérrez Camposeco, president of Canaco CDMX .

This last clarification is crucial , as costs could increase once the potential material damage to commercial infrastructure and historic buildings during the demonstrations is assessed. The perception that authorities were slow or ineffective in resolving the conflict and lifting the protest has also generated unrest in the business sector , undermining confidence in the city's operating environment .

The epicenter of the damage was undoubtedly Mexico City 's Historic Center , particularly the area surrounding the Zócalo , where the CNTE's main encampment was set up. However, the impact spread to other areas due to constant roadblocks .

According to figures from local authorities cited by Canaco , the following were recorded:

• More than 11,770 camping tents set up on public roads .
• At least 29 roadblocks were set up on primary roads such as Paseo de la Reforma , Avenida de los Insurgentes , Viaducto Miguel Alemán , and Calzada de Tlalpan . Even access to Mexico City International Airport (AICM) was affected at times.

Given this situation, Canaco CDMX has expressed the feelings of its members , expressing their discontent with what they considered to be " little action " by federal authorities and those of Mexico City to provide a prompt solution to the teachers' conflict and lift the sit-in that paralyzed economic activity .

Business leaders have called on authorities to guarantee the right to free movement and contain protests that result in vandalism or disproportionately affect third parties . They have also requested that mechanisms be established to assess and, where appropriate, compensate for damages suffered by businesses . The impact is disproportionately greater for small businesses , which operate on tight margins and for whom several days of lost sales can mean a real risk of bankruptcy .

While the CNTE finally lifted its main protest and announced the return to classes in its home states , discussions continue over the economic consequences and the Mexico City government 's handling of these types of conflicts. To date, no specific official response from the Mexico City government to the figures presented by Canaco has emerged, nor have any concrete plans for support or compensation been announced for the thousands of businesses affected by these latest protests.

Mexico City's commercial sector is now seeking to recover from this blow . One opportunity for this could be the upcoming Father's Day celebration , for which Canaco estimates an economic impact of approximately 4.928 billion pesos in the capital. This holiday is expected to boost consumption and help mitigate, at least partially, the recent losses .

However, the challenge for many small and medium-sized businesses will be considerable, as the impact of protests comes on top of an already complex economic environment .

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