Understanding the Silla Law and its Implications
The Silla Law, a reform to the Federal Labor Law (FLL), acknowledges the right to rest on a chair with a back during working hours. This regulation entered into force in two phases, and since December 14, it has been fully enforceable. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to 565,700 pesos per affected worker.
The FLL reform mandated employers to provide employees with seating for periodic rest during working hours, prohibiting them from keeping their staff standing for the entire work shift and denying them break times. These provisions were integrated into the Federal Labor Law in Article 132, fraction V, and Article 133, fraction XVII Bis.
For all fines, labor legislation allows sanctions per affected worker and does not exempt employers from compliance obligations.
Upcoming Inspections
The scenario of fines under the Silla Law is quite likely, given the ongoing non-compliance with the regulation. The STPS (Federal Tax Administration Service) has announced that it will incorporate the verification of compliance with these obligations into its Annual Inspection Program for 2026.
“This will enable us to accompany workplaces in the correct implementation of this normative change, ensuring conditions that favor the health, rest, and prevention of workplace risks for all working individuals,” stated the service in a communication.
The STPS has clarified that the Silla Law applies to all workers, regardless of their industry. The nature of work only determines whether the worker can perform their duties while seated or if a specific seating area must be provided for rest.
The STPS has urged employers in the industrial, commercial, and service sectors to “strictly comply with these new obligations, as these measures strengthen risk prevention, reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries, and contribute to the well-being and productivity of working individuals.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Silla Law? The Silla Law is a reform to Mexico’s Federal Labor Law that mandates employers to provide workers with seating for periodic rest during working hours, ensuring their health and preventing workplace risks.
- What are the consequences of non-compliance with the Silla Law? Non-compliant employers can face fines of up to 565,700 pesos per affected worker.
- Which sectors does the Silla Law apply to? The Silla Law applies to all working individuals, regardless of their industry. It ensures that workers can perform their duties while seated or have access to a specific area for rest.
- What actions will the STPS take to enforce the Silla Law? The STPS will include verification of compliance with the Silla Law in its Annual Inspection Program for 2026, ensuring workplaces implement the normative change correctly and favor worker health.
