OEMs and suppliers to benefit as Mexico starts to lift COVID-19-related restrictions

On May 14, Mexico’s General Health Council (Consejo de Salubridad General) approved four resolutions to allow for the gradual lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions on businesses:

• Adding construction, mining and transport manufacturing sectors to the list of essential activities
• Lifting work and school restrictions for municipalities that have no contagions and are adjacent to municipalities with zero contagions
• Requiring all businesses and establishments to apply at-work sanitary measures issued by Mexico’s Ministries of Health and Labor, and the Mexican Institute for Social Security
• Starting on June 1, a weekly level system for each state issued by the Ministry of Health; each level of color in the system will allow different economic, education and social activities to operate with different levels of intensity

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) expects that the construction, mining and transport manufacturing sectors will be allowed to reopen on May 18. NAM also notes that “transport manufacturing” is expected to include the automotive and aerospace sectors, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers.

The Mexican government will issue specific protocols for the operation of the transport manufacturing sector soon.

An English translation of the full official text from the Ministry of Health notes that as part of reopening, companies or industries engaged in activities considered essential must:

• Develop sanitary protocols for restarting activity
• Train personnel for safety in the workplace
• Readjust workplace spaces and production processes
• Implement entry filters, sanitation and hygiene of the workplace

If these processes are concluded and approved before June 1, 2020, the company or industry may begin its operations. If the processes are not complied with, the companies or industries that put the health of their workers at risk will be closed.   

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