Amendments To The Legal Working Age

On June 12, 2015, Mexico amended the Federal Labor Law ("FLL"), adopting the increase in the legal working age that was enacted through a constitutional amendment in 2014. ( Click here to read our discussion of the 2014 constitutional amendment). The FLL – the country's employment law code – codifies the constitutional amendment that increased the legal working age from 14 to 15 years old and from 16 to 18 years old (where applicable).

With the amendment, only individuals who are 15 years old and older can be employed. Additionally, employees who are under 16 years old must obtain authorization from their parents or legal guardian. In the absence of a parent or legal guardian, the employee can obtain authorization from his or her union, the Labor Board, the Labor Inspector or the applicable Political Authority.