Workplace Equity and Inclusion: A Human Rights Approach in the Business Sector

Abstract

Workplace equity and inclusion are established as key elements for the sustainable development of organisations and the construction of fairer societies, particularly in Latin America, where Mexico and Ecuador demonstrate significant progress in legislation and public policies oriented towards these principles. Despite progressive regulatory frameworks and corporate social responsibility strategies, structural, cultural, and institutional barriers persist, limiting the effective implementation of inclusive practices within companies, creating gaps in access to employment opportunities and affecting the professional development of historically marginalised groups. The implementation of workplace inclusion depends not only on legal compliance but also on the alignment of organisational culture, corporate leadership, and institutional capacities. Transforming internal practices, recognising diversity, and adopting monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that ensure genuine equity are therefore essential. The study was conducted through a systematic bibliographic review aimed at analysing how workplace equity and inclusion are realised in Mexico and Ecuador from a human rights perspective, employing the PRISMA method to rigorously document each phase of the analysis. This approach enabled the organisation and synthesis of available academic, regulatory, and institutional evidence, identifying advances, limitations, and opportunities, while providing a comprehensive perspective that strengthens corporate strategies to effectively and sustainably promote workplace inclusion.