Chair Law Not Being Enforced in Mexico City, Two Months After Passing

ByMexico Solidarity

This article by Roberto Trejo originally appeared in the August 14, 2025 edition of Expansión.

“In the store, they don’t let us sit down even for a moment, because it looks bad and customers think we don’t want to sell,” says an employee at a store in Plaza Las Antenas, in Iztapalapa. He explains that he’s heard about the Chair Law on the news, but that at work, they haven’t heard anything about it, despite it having gone into effect two months ago.

Juan Manuel—a fictitious name to protect his identity and that of his workplace for fear of reprisals—tells Expansión that as a floor worker, he must spend long hours standing and is reprimanded if he is seen occupying one of the few seats in the room. “We also can’t lean against the walls, because the supervisor will come and scold us right away.”

He says it’s his third time working at a convenience store, but he no longer has the same stamina he used to: “I’m 35 now, and I can’t stand for long hours like I did when I was younger. I used to [deal with it], but now my knees crack and my back is killing me. In the end, you come here to earn a living and you don’t want any trouble, but it would be great if that law were enforced.”

Juan Manuel’s story is just one of many for those who, day after day, go out to earn a living, even at the cost of their physical and mental health. Visiting several shops in the plaza, it was clear that the law remains unenforced.

Security personnel are the ones most required to remain standing during their shifts. (Roberto Trejo)

Is a Seated Worker Less Productive?

Although the Silla Law went into effect on June 17, 2025, it creates uncertainty in business sectors. Concanaco Servytur warns that the law could reduce the effective working day by up to 18.7% in commerce, services, and tourism, because it does not establish clear rules on the duration and frequency of active breaks and rest periods.

According to Concanaco, 48 hours of an 8-hour workday are paid, but only 42 are actually worked due to breaks. If these breaks are extended, productive time can drop to 6.5 hours per day, a reduction of 18.75%. This impacts companies’ planning, productivity, and operating costs.

For Omar Sánchez, commercial director of the furniture company PM STEELE and an ergonomics expert, the Chair Law should not affect productivity if appropriate furniture is used to allow employees to rest while still working. He adds that the success of the legislation depends on proper implementation that takes into account occupational health and business efficiency.

“I don’t agree; I don’t think there’s really a drop in productivity. Rather, I think what we need is clear guidelines for combining this ergonomic culture with work processes,” the specialist explains.

The employer believes that an employee who spends most of their workday standing will eventually experience fatigue, posture problems, and ailments, which could lead to absences from work and, consequently, affect the company’s productivity.

“So, if this ergonomic culture is applied correctly, a significant reduction in work absences related to poor posture or employee fatigue can be achieved,” he notes.

Additionally, he explains that the type of work each person does must be taken into account to determine what type of seat they need to rest their body while remaining productive.

Security guards must still stand for their shifts. (Roberto Trejo)

Salespeople, Cashiers, Guards and Grocery-Baggers Continue to Work Standing Up

As part of a tour conducted by Expansión at Plaza Las Antenas on Sunday, August 10, it was found that only one of the stores visited implements the new law. One of the workers said that a month ago they were given a folding chair, which they must take turns using among four or five coworkers to rest for a few minutes.

The employee acknowledges the chair has helped them take a short break when there aren’t many customers in the store. “It’s a relief to sit down, even if it’s just for a few minutes, because otherwise, you end up really tired, with your feet and back feeling like they’re burning by the end of the job.”

In stores such as Liverpool, Sears, Sanborns, Coppel, Miniso, Puma, Telcel, Adidas, Starbucks, Cuidado con el Perro, Dax, Montepio Luz Saviñon, Forever 21, Innovasport, Ishop, Martí, and Pull & Bear, most employees must work standing up.

The same thing happens at food establishments like KFC, Carl’s Jr., Dairy Queen, Ihop, and La Casa de Toño, where work is completely stand-up and under a lot of stress due to the influx of customers.

At Walmart, employees, including older adults who work as baggers, must spend most of their shifts standing. Although they have a large bench, it’s not exclusively theirs; customers sometimes occupy it, so they have to wait for it to become available or for someone to give it to them to rest.

In Mexico, many senior citizens work as grocery baggers at grocery monopolies like Wal-Mart and are paid only in tips, yet are still not provided with chairs. (Roberto Trejo)

Other employees from various stores indicated that the only time to sit is during lunch. Some commented that they can only find seats in the public areas of the plaza, so they have to wait for space. Only a few admit to having a small rest area where they can rest for a few minutes before continuing with their work.

During the tour, we observed that stores like Liverpool, Sears, and Miniso, while they don’t have chairs for salespeople or cashiers, do have cushioned mats in their work areas. These are intended to alleviate the discomfort of standing on hard surfaces. “If it weren’t for this mat, my feet wouldn’t be able to stand, although my back still hurts,” commented one employee.

A Miniso cashier remains standing, despite her job being at a fixed location within the store. (Roberto Trejo)

“I find it difficult to enforce the law in stores.”

For Itzel “N,” a former floor worker at Liverpool, it is unlikely that the Chair Law will actually be enforced, since saleswomen are required not to sit down so as not to give the impression of laziness or lack of interest in selling, which could affect sales.

She says she once made the mistake of sitting on one of the armchairs for sale in the dining room area, which earned him a fine. She says she hadn’t been there long, and it seemed natural to relax there, like some of the other customers.

“I find it very difficult for the Silla Law to be enforced, because in these stores, both managers and customers view you as unkind if you’re sitting. They don’t understand how tired you are and they judge you without knowing if you’re in pain or how long you’ve been standing,” she notes, calling for greater empathy for this profession.

Challenges & Opportunities of the Chair Law

For Omar Sánchez, this reform could pave the way for employers to ensure the well-being of their employees, which will ultimately lead to improvements in productivity, since today it’s not just about money, but also about “emotional salary” and the care they receive at work.

“The law is a catalyst for promoting a new understanding of labor dignity in Mexico. When a company decides to offer these ergonomic conditions, it is sending a clear message: I respect you, I value you, and I want you to stay,” the specialist concludes.

A Telcel employee stands in front of a computer. (Roberto Trejo)

Although the Chair Law went into effect on June 17, the reform published in the Official Gazette of the Federation establishes a six-month adaptation period, i.e., until December, for companies to make the necessary adjustments to ensure the well-being and active rest of their workers.

The implementation of the Chair Law in the commercial sector still faces obstacles and cultural resistance that hinder its effective enforcement. Although it seeks to improve working conditions by allowing employees to take breaks during the workday, the reality in many commercial establishments, such as Plaza Las Antenas in Iztapalapa, shows that traditional practices persist and the law is more of an expectation than a reality.

While some workplaces are just beginning to implement minimal changes, the majority of workers continue to work standing up, without access to adequate furniture or rest areas. The law poses significant challenges in adapting to different types of work and breaking down prejudices that link rest with a lack of productivity or engagement.

In a few stores, chairs have been placed for workers. (Roberto Trejo)