Mexico: the auto industry and its subcontractors, classed as ‘essential activities’ and will resume business from 18 May.

On 12 May Mexico’s General Health Council delivered its opinion allowing ‘manufacturing transport equipment’ to resume business nationwide from 18 May. Alongside the automobile and aeronautics sectors, both the mining industry and building & construction activities have also been classed as ‘essential activities’ for the purposes of the federal government’s strategy to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement follows significant pressure from the North American manufacturing sector that is looking for a rapid resumption of business. Indeed, for several weeks, the automobile sector has been seeking federal government authorization to resume business in Mexico, in coordination with the recovery agenda planned in the United States, since plants located north of the US-Mexico border are heavily dependent on parts produced or assembled in Mexico. In the past few days, the National Automotive Institute (INA) and the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) approached the executive to negotiate a return to work by their employees alongside a commitment upholding strict health measures. The health considerations will be progressively published in the days ahead by the Ministry of Health, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Ministry of Labour and the General Health Council.