On March 24, 2020, the Agreement establishing the preventive measures to be implemented for the mitigation and control of the health risks of the disease caused by the SARS CoV2 (COVID-19) virus was published in the Federal Official Gazette.

Some of the points considered in the Agreement are the following:

a) Adults over 65 years of age and over and groups of people at risk should avoid attending work centers, public spaces, and other crowded places.

b) Temporary suspension of school activities at all levels until April 17, 2020, as established by the Public Education Secretariat.

c) Temporary suspension of activities in the public, social, and private sectors that involve physical concentration, transit, or displacement of people, from the entry into force of this Agreement and until April 19, 2020.

d) Temporary suspension of mass events and meetings and congregations of more than 100 people until further notice from the health authority. It would be important to analyze this point with your labor lawyers for companies with more than 100 people at any given time.

In the Agreement issued by the Health Secretariat, the declaration of health contingency is not tacitly considered and, as a consequence, the suspension of work is not decreed, so the consensus of opinion of labor lawyers is that companies should continue working, making sure that their operation is in accordance with the health measures established in the Agreement.

As a health contingency has not been decreed, it will be necessary that you, along with your labor lawyer, determine the best strategies to carry out within your company regarding the preventive measures published on March 24, 2020.

You can read the complete Agreement in the following link:

DOF: Acuerdo Secretaría de Salud 24 marzo 2020 (in Spanish)

In Bulletin No. 1 México, the possible labor consequences of these measures are mentioned, as well as some strategies to mitigate the impact they might cause.

We remind you of our availability if you have questions about wages or the employment status of your workers. We will collaborate closely with your legal advisors to guide you through this difficult period.