The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare published Governmental Agreement No. 19-2023, which repeals the regulations contained in Governmental Agreement 179-2022 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare for the prevention of COVID-19 in work centers.
Therefore, the following provisions are no longer in effect and are no longer applicable to any work center.
Obligations of Employers:
- Ensure social distancing under the Health Alert System and Sanitary Provisions of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, or use physical barriers.
- Cleaning work areas, tools, materials, and surfaces, providing adequate supplies for disinfection.
- Provide liquid or gel alcohol and soap for hand washing.
- Provide masks or mouth masks when appropriate.
- Promote information and dissemination campaigns to prevent the spread of SARS COV-2 and disseminate health regulations.
- Schedule and allow OHS monitors to train workers on strategies to minimize the spread of SARS-COV-2.
- Have a PPRL or PSSO in the workplace (compliance with OHS regulations).
Employer Prohibitions:
- Forcing workers to provide services without protective measures to minimize SARS-COV-2.
- Suspending workers (asymptomatic or symptomatic) from the workplace without following the health measures for SARS-COV-2.
Worker Obligations:
- Comply with the sanitary provisions issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance or the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
Worker Prohibitions:
- Execute acts to prevent compliance with OHS measures at work.
- Damaging or destroying personal protective equipment or refusing to use it.
- Damaging, destroying, concealing, or removing posters created to promote SARS-COV-2 prevention and infection control.
- Performing work without personal protective equipment
In this context, only the general provisions on occupational health and safety, which are mandatory for employers and workers, remain in force.