Mexico City – Mexico’s Labor Department on Friday issued new regulations to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of remote workers, requiring employers to provide tools and cover some costs related to teleworking.
The new law establishes, among other things, that employers must provide employees working from home with the necessary tools to work remotely, such as ergonomic chairs.
Employers must also cover the costs proportional to the consumption of internet and electricity, as well as the necessary electronic devices, such as computers, tablets, smartphones and printers, including the ink supply for the latter. They must also respect the employees’ right to disconnect at the end of the working day.
Employees working from home also have responsibilities, such as reporting on changes of address of the workplace, informing the employer about the costs derived from the work, such as telecommunication services and electricity, in a timely manner, and taking care of the equipment, materials and supplies provided by the employer.
According to the new regulations, if an employee’s home isn’t safe, well-lit and well-ventilated, they can’t work there. Inspectors can visit a worker’s home, or employees may be asked to take pictures of their home, to prove that it meets labor requirements.
The new rules apply to employees who work at least 40% of the week from home. These remote workers cannot be paid less than those who go to an office, and they must have set work hours.
The regulation makes it clear that workers should not be discriminated against or deprived of their rights for teleworking. Remote workers have the same rights as those who work in person, including social security and the right to unionize, to collective bargaining and to contact their co-workers in the workplace.