Complementary Regulation of the “Ley Silla” Comes into Effect

The provisions apply mandatorily to all workplaces across the country in the service, commerce, analogous centers, and industrial establishments sectors, provided that the nature of the work allows tasks to be performed in a seated position, at least alternately.

These regulations were issued in compliance with the Second Transitory Article of the Decree published on December 19, 2024, which mandated the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) to issue specific rules within thirty calendar days following the entry into force of the reform, which occurred on June 17, 2025. By publishing on July 17, the legal mandate is fulfilled, and operational content is provided to the reform of Article 132 of the Federal Labor Law.

Among the main regulated aspects, specific obligations are established for employers. Firstly, they must conduct a risk analysis related to prolonged standing, which must be formally documented within the occupational safety and health diagnosis or program, or in preventive and corrective actions. This analysis shall include detailed information such as working environment conditions, tools used, type of physical load, required attention level, and individual characteristics of each worker, including gender, age, health status, and pregnancy condition. Such analysis shall be conducted in accordance with NOM-030-STPS-2009.

Furthermore, it is mandatory to record identified risks and preventive measures in the verification minutes to be carried out by the workplace Health and Safety Committee. If the company has not yet established such committee, it shall constitute one in accordance with the provisions of NOM-019-STPS-2011. Additionally, the risk level of each worker must be individually assessed according to a scoring system that considers various ergonomic and personal factors.

Based on such an evaluation, employers are obligated to provide chairs or seats with backrests appropriate to the identified risk level. These seats must comply with certain technical specifications, such as adjustable height, lumbar support, ergonomic backrest, stability, and where applicable, footrests and armrests. The objective is to allow workers to alternate between standing and sitting positions, thereby reducing physical strain and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

In addition to providing seating, employers must adopt additional preventive measures, such as designing workstations that facilitate movement, alternating tasks to allow posture changes, providing ergonomic footwear, establishing scheduled active breaks during the workday, and equipping floors with cushioned or anti-fatigue materials.

When there are indications of discomfort or health issues related to prolonged standing, workers must be referred for medical examinations to prevent occupational diseases.

Workers themselves also have obligations, including providing relevant information for ergonomic evaluation, participating in training sessions, properly using the assigned seats, keeping common areas orderly where seats are located, and reporting any anomalies detected in the equipment provided.

Compliance monitoring of these provisions will be under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, which will also have the authority to interpret them in accordance with the Federal Labor Law and applicable regulations.

Recommended Immediate Action

Given that the regulation is already in force, it is essential that companies conduct a thorough review of current working conditions, update their safety diagnoses and programs, and promptly implement the necessary measures to comply with these new obligations. Non-compliance may result in labor sanctions as well as legal risks due to omissions in the duty to protect workers’ health.

To consult the full text published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, please visit the following link:
https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5763187&fecha=17/07/2025#gsc.tab=0

At Cannizzo, we remain at your disposal to provide further information or advice on proper implementation.