At the beginning of 2022, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) implemented the version 3.0 of the COVID-19 Permit in the face of the emergency situation caused by the growth in the rate of infections associated with the Omicron variant and the consequent increase in the demand for medical care, as well as temporary disabilities to work caused by COVID-19. With this, the digital processing of disabilities due to this disease was facilitated in a more flexible way through a questionnaire of symptoms, which allowed the insured to have legal protection from their employers, to be able to protect themselves properly at home and to vent the demand of services in the IMSS Medical Units.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, through a statement dated February 21, 2022, the IMSS announced that, given the decrease in infections and requests for temporary disabilities to work, as of February 22 the granting of COVID Permits through the electronic portal that had been created to expedite the processing of disabilities due to said disease and thus avoid the contagion of people when they go to the clinics to request their disabilities, has come to an end. Therefore, as of the aforementioned date, those employees who present symptoms of COVID-19 shall go directly to the Family Medicine Units for their face-to-face assessment and, where appropriate, for the issuance of their temporary disability to work.

Finally, the IMSS asserted that as of the launch of the version 3.0 of its electronic portal up to date, 373,296 COVID Permits have been granted remotely, which prevented the transfer of the same number of employees for the processing of said Permit and its consequent collection at windows, thereby stopping the chains of contagion.

At Trejo Gutiérrez Abogados, we have a group of experts in labor matters with more than 20 years in the market. Please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be glad to provide the personalized legal advice that you require.