Silla Law: IP and government clash over “clear” rules

The implementation of the "Silla Law" in Nuevo León has generated a conflict between the business sector and the government. Chambers such as Caintra and Coparmex denounce a "lack of clear technical parameters" in the regulations, which creates operational uncertainty and potentially impacts productivity.

The recently passed " Silla Law ," a federal reform designed to guarantee the right to rest for workers who spend long hours on their feet, has sparked a serious confrontation in Nuevo León . The state's main business leaders, including Caintra, Coparmex, and Canacope, have expressed deep concern about the law's ambiguity, arguing that the lack of clear rules threatens to generate operational chaos.

The core of the dispute is not the intent of the law—which employers claim to support—but its wording. The main criticism is the lack of technical and quantifiable parameters. The law requires employers to provide periodic rest breaks, but does not specify the duration, frequency, or conditions of such breaks.

This lack of specificity, according to Catalina Domínguez Estrada, president of Canacope Monterrey, forces employers to conduct subjective risk assessments. This could lead to rest plans resulting in effective reductions of between 9% and 12.5% of the workday, directly affecting shift planning, productivity goals, and labor costs, all without a clear regulatory framework to support it.

Business leaders insist that this uncertainty is detrimental, especially for micro and small businesses that lack the capacity to absorb unforeseen costs or complex restructurings.

The private sector's proposal to resolve this impasse is clear: dialogue and collaboration. Caintra and Coparmex have indicated that training and the creation of "joint committees," composed of worker and company representatives, are essential to define the most appropriate rest schedules for each workplace, aligned with their actual and operational needs.

"This analysis (conducted by joint committees) is key to ensuring proper, effective implementation aligned with the real needs of each workplace." – Caintra statement.

The conflict in Nuevo León is a reflection of the challenges the "Silla Law" faces nationwide. Companies across the country are required to comply with the new regulations to avoid fines that can range from 28,000 to over 280,000 pesos. This regulatory pressure, combined with a lack of clarity in the rules, has created a tense environment.

The Nuevo León business sector is calling for a shift from a "desktop" law to a functional law, adapted to the current reality of production and agreed upon by all involved parties.