Mexico is introducing changes to the Federal Labor Law to improve working conditions, including the right for workers to have chairs with backrests and a ban on extended periods of standing. The changes are expected to take effect from 17 June 2025.
Background
The decree introducing the changes to the Federal Labor Law (Ley Silla, or the “Decree”) was published in the Mexican Official Journal on 19 December 2024. The Decree is expected to take effect on 17 June 2025 (180 days after publication), and employers will have another 180 days (by 14 December 2025) to modify their internal work regulations (required company-drafted rules on working conditions, conduct and disciplinary procedures) to include the new right to use seats or chairs with backrests.
Key details
Seating rights
Employers will be required to provide sufficient seats or chairs with backrests for all employees for the performance of their duties or for periodic rest during the workday.
For periodic rest, the seats or chairs with backrests must be located at designated rest areas within the workplace. The Decree does not define the frequency or length of “periodic rest,” although this would likely include a break of at least half an hour during the continuous working day, which employees are entitled to under the existing Federal Labor Law.
The Decree requires employers to provide such chairs with backrests in service, commercial and similar workplaces, but does not specify exemptions for any industry except for industrial workplaces. Accordingly, it is likely that all employers will have to comply.
For industrial workplaces (not specifically defined in the Federal Labor Law or the Decree, but would likely include industrial activities such as manufacturing, mining and construction), the requirement to provide chairs with backrests will not apply only if the nature of the work does not permit sitting down during the performance of duties.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is expected to issue corresponding implementing regulations on occupational risk factors within 30 days of the effective date of the Decree (by 17 July 2025). These regulations may provide more clarity on how seating rights should be implemented by employers.
Prohibition on extended periods of standing
Employers will be prohibited from requiring employees to remain standing during the entire workday. Employers will also not be permitted to prohibit employees periodically sitting down during the performance of their duties. More clarity on the definition of “periodically” may be available in the implementing regulations to be released.
New requirements for internal labor regulations
Under the Federal Labor Law, employers are required to maintain internal labor regulations on working conditions, conduct and disciplinary procedures. Under the Decree, employers will be required to amend their internal labor regulations to include regulations on mandatory rest periods during the workday and the right of workers to use seats or chairs with backrests during the workday. The amended regulations must be deposited with the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration by 14 December 2025 (180 days from the effective date of the Decree).
Penalties
Penalties for non-compliance with the new obligations include fines between 250 to 2,500 times the daily value of the Unit of Measurement and Update (UMA) (MXN 113.14 in 2025) or, in cases of repeated infractions, a temporary suspension of the business’s activities.
Employer action: ACT
Employers should review current seating arrangements in the workplace to determine whether any changes need to be implemented to comply with the Decree. As the Decree only specifies a certain date for employers to adapt their internal labor regulations and does not set out a required date of compliance for all provisions, employers should aim to start providing employees with chairs with backrests and comply with the prohibition on extended periods of standing by the effective date of the Decree on 17 June 2025.
Employers should also review and update their internal labor regulations and deposit them with the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration within the required timeframe. As the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is expected to issue implementing regulations within 30 days of the effective date of the Decree, employers will wish to wait for such regulations to be issued before finalizing amendments to their internal labor regulations.
Further Information
Decree amending and adding various provisions of the Federal Labor Law (opens a new window)
