September 2, 2026
On August 31, 2026, the Agreement establishing simplification actions for procedures carried out before the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare («Ministry”) was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. The Agreement enters into force on the business day following its publication and seeks to reduce administrative burdens, eliminate redundant requirements, and speed up response times for four procedures related to workplace safety under NOM-020-STPS-2011 and to home-based work.
NOM-020-STPS-2011 applies to all workplaces where pressure vessels, cryogenic vessels, and steam generators or boilers operate. With respect to the requirements for compliance notices under this standard, the obligation to submit a power of attorney letter from the legal representative and a notarized power of attorney has been eliminated, as has the free-form written request that was previously required to register employers’ pressure vessels.
In addition, the following procedures were merged: the two NOM-020 notices (STPS-08-002 and STPS-08-003) are now unified as the «Application for a control number for the operation of pressure vessels, cryogenic vessels, and steam generators or boilers classified as Category III (NOM-020-STPS-2011)» under homoclave STPS-08-003, and the employer registration and home-based worker validation procedures (STPS-08-006 and STPS-08-007) are merged into the «Application for a control number for the operation of pressure vessels, cryogenic vessels, and steam generators or boilers classified as Category III (NOM-020-STPS-2011),» homoclave STPS-08-006.
The new procedure for pressure vessels (Category III) requires:
- Application form;
- Conformity assessment report;
- Official identification of the employer or legal representative;
- If filed through a legal representative, a current document evidencing their legal authority must also be submitted.
Resolution times have been considerably reduced. The control number for Category III vessels has been reduced to 5 business days and must be requested at least 5 business days before the equipment is put into operation, or within the 60 calendar days prior to expiration in the case of renewal.
The Agreement also specifies that the STPS may not require documentation that it itself has issued, plain copies, or requirements beyond those now listed.
In conclusion, the practical significance is twofold: on one hand, it simplifies and speeds up the processes that were previously particularly slow; on the other, it reduces the risk of rejection due to unnecessary documentation by eliminating requirements that can no longer be requested.
Companies are advised to update their internal records in line with the new reference numbers and requirements, and to monitor the adjustments the Ministry must make to the Single Citizen Portal for Procedures and Services (Portal Ciudadano Único de Trámites y Servicios) within the one-year period set by the Agreement.
This bulletin was prepared by the Labor & Employment practice with support from Regina Torres-Septién.
The attorneys of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. remain at your disposal should you have any questions or require additional information.