Mexico ratifies the Safety and Health in Mines Convention

International Labour Standards

Mexico ratifies the Safety and Health in Mines Convention

Mexico reaffirms its strong commitment to occupational safety and health for mining workers by becoming the 36th country to ratify Convention No. 176.

9 June 2026

GENEVA (ILO News) - On 5 June 2026, Mr Marath Baruch Bolaños López, Secretary of Labour and Social Welfare of Mexico, presented the instrument of ratification of the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) to the ILO Director-General, Mr Gilbert F. Houngbo.

Depositing the instrument of ratification, the Secretary of Labour and Social Welfare indicated: "On behalf of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and the Government of Mexico, I hereby present the instrument of ratification of Convention No. 176 on Safety and Health in Mines, through which Mexico formally commits to its implementation and joins the countries that have ratified it, with the aim of strengthening the protection of workers. This act reflects our conviction that occupational safety and health is a fundamental right, not an option. In mining - a key activity for economic development and involving significant risks - prevention must always be the highest priority".

When receiving the instrument of ratification, Mr Houngbo declared: "I congratulate Mexico on the ratification of Convention No. 176, which reaffirms Mexico's commitment to protecting the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment and the protection of mineworkers. The Convention provides a modern regulatory approach for addressing complex working environments in mining and requires the formulation and periodic review of a coherent policy on safety and health in mines, in consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned."

With this ratification, Mexico has now ratified 83 ILO Conventions and 1 Protocol.