Mexico's Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación or DOF) published the labor law for rest, Ley Silla, on Dec. 19, 2024. This amendment to the Federal Labor Law (Ley Federal del Trabajo or LFT) guarantees the right of workers to have access to appropriate seating and/or rest areas during their workday. This measure aligns Mexico with countries such as Chile, Spain and Argentina, which have similar regulations regarding working conditions.
The main provisions of the amendment are as follows:
- Seating and Rest Areas: Employers are required to provide chairs with backrests. If the nature of the job makes this impractical, designated rest areas must be set up for workers. This provision primarily targets the service, commerce and industrial sectors where the nature of the work allows it.
- Prohibition of Prolonged Standing: Employers are prohibited from requiring workers to remain standing throughout their entire workday, except for specific safety or functional reasons.
- Updating Internal Work Regulations: Employers must update their internal work regulations to include provisions regarding the use of chairs, rest periods and procedures to guarantee hearings during internal disciplinary processes.
- Implementation Deadlines: The law will take effect 180 days after its publication in the DOF. Employers will have an additional 180 days from the effective date of the reform to adjust internal policies and working conditions accordingly.
- Complementary Standards: The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will issue specific regulations on occupational risk factors within 30 days after the reform's effective date.
This amendment seeks, among other objectives, to improve the quality of working life and enhance productivity by preventing health issues such as varicose veins, muscle fatigue and cardiovascular diseases related to the lack of rest. However, it presents a challenge for companies, which must analyze its impact and implement the necessary measures.
