Municipal authorities in Los Cabos continue to struggle with the longstanding issue of minors working in tourist areas, particularly El Médano Beach and the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
Despite repeated efforts, officials have yet to eliminate the presence of children engaged in commercial activities. The Fiscal Inspection Department, which oversees street vendor regulations, said it is working with other agencies to strengthen enforcement.
“Our inspectors regularly remove them from the marina, but that’s as far as we can go. We lack the authority to detain them or refer them to DIF (National System for Integral Family Development),” said Manuel Barajas, head of Fiscal Inspection. “We’ve reached out to other institutions and joined working groups. Some actions are underway, but they’re not enough. Unfortunately, parents often don’t cooperate.”
Barajas said that new measures will be implemented, including revoking vendor permits if parents continue to involve children in street sales. The recently distributed permits include detailed vendor information and are part of a municipal registry aimed at improving oversight.
Mayor Christian Agúndez confirmed that the issue is being addressed by SIPINNA (National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents), DIF, and public safety departments.
“These are sensitive matters involving children and adolescents,” he said. “But our position is clear: children should be in school or at home, not selling or engaging in illegal trade. The directive is especially for parents to help end this practice.”