제 목 : Mexico Toughens Safet Laws
일 자 : 1998년 08월
제공처 : Safety+Health
To better ensure worker safsry, the Mexican Ministry of Labor and
Socia1 Welfare continues to reformits regularions. The agency is
roughly analogous to the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but it lacks an equivalent
to OSHA inspectors who are called in by employees for unannounced inspections.
When the Mexican agency First established worker safety guidelines,
state inspectors were in charge of enforcing them. In l987, Mexico's federal
government took over rhe responsibility. Mexican labor laws require companies
to set up joint manager/worker health and safety committees that both
establish workplace safety standards and enforce them. The committees
esrablish written safety rules and coordinate reviews of suspected
health and safety problems.
However, critics say such committees often fail to act on violations,
and even strike deals with owners or officials to give the appearance of
compliance.
In l997, the Mexican government upgraded its health and safety regulations.
The new laws stipulate thar companies contract private, third-party
"verification units" to inspect the companies. In addition, the government
must certify private inspectors.
According to Mexican federal Iaw, companies are responsible for training
their emp1oyees in health and safety measures, but many do nof have
an instruction program.
Large companies have better compliance records than smaller ones, although
the Mexican safety
and health agency points out that large companies (IOO workers or more)
comprise less than lO percenr of all companies in Mexico.
Most small companies are never inspected.
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