On April 29, 2022, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) announced an initiative to amend article 513 of the Federal Labor Law (LFT) that seeks to modify the table of work-related illnesses included in said article. As part of these changes, 88 occupational illnesses and disability assessments were added, the main one being COVID-19; 52 occupational diseases were grouped; and 3 diseases of women were added, in addition to mental disorders, myocardial infarctions due to exposure to chemicals, diseases such as pregnancy loss, endometriosis, as well as 26 types of cancer.

It is important to emphasize that the table of work-related illnesses had not been modified since 1970. In addition, in accordance with the STPS, the initiative to modify the table was carried out with the participation of specialists from the Mexican Institute of Social Security, among others.

Therefore, the table of work-related illnesses, if the initiative presented by the STPS is approved, would consist of the following:

GROUP	NAME	IN FORCE	PROJECT	GROUPED	VARIATION
I.	Infectious and Parasitic Diseases	21	41	0	20
II.	Occupational Cancers	4	30	0	26
III.	Diseases of the Circulatory System, Blood and Hematopoietic Organs	1	6	0	5
IV.	Mental disorders	1	4	0	3
V.	Diseases of the Respiratory System	50	10	40	0
VI.	Diseases of the Digestive System	0	3	0	3
VII.	Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues	18	6	12	0
VIII.	Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue	6	14	0	8
IX.	Poisoning	37	46	0	9
X.	Eye and Ear Diseases	19	28	0	9
XI.	Endocrinology and Genito-Urinary Diseases	1	6	0	5
	Others	3	0	3	0
	TOTAL	161	194	55	88

It is worth mentioning that the group of diseases that increased the most, as commented by the STPS, was work-related cancer, going from 4 to 30 ailments; and infectious and parasitic pathologies, going from 21 to 41 conditions, among which the pandemic disease by COVID-19 stands out. In addition, for the first time, psychosocial diseases derived from work-related stress, as well as diseases of the digestive system, among others, were incorporated.

We must not lose sight of the fact that this is an amendment initiative. Therefore, the approval by the Congress is still pending to make it a reality. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is important that workplaces carry out an exhaustive analysis of the state of their employees’ health, in order to be prepared in the event that this initiative is approved.

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.