Senate Committees Advance Approval of Mining Safety Convention

Mexico’s Senate committees have approved a draft resolution supporting the ratification of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines, marking a step toward strengthening protections for workers in one of the country’s most hazardous industries.

The joint committees on International Organizations, Foreign Affairs, and Mining endorsed the measure, which aims to promote safer working environments and define rights and obligations for both employers and employees in the mining sector. The Convention, adopted in Geneva in 1995, requires signatories to implement legal and institutional frameworks that protect miners’ health and safety through preventive measures, inspections, and worker participation.

Senator Lorenia Valles, President, Mining Committee, says that the move helps address a longstanding gap in labor protections. “Mexico is settling a decades-old debt with a sector that contributes 2.8% of the national GDP and employs more than 416,000 people,” says Valles, noting that mining represents 17.3% of Sonora’s GDP and provides over 140,000 formal jobs in the state.

According to ILO, mining employs about 1% of the global workforce — roughly 30 million people — but accounts for 8% of all fatal occupational accidents. Senator Alejandro Murat, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, says that this underscores the urgency of adopting the Convention. “Mining remains the most dangerous profession in the world,” he says, pointing to common occupational hazards including pneumoconiosis, hearing loss, and other chronic illnesses caused by exposure to dust, vibrations, and toxic substances.

The Convention commits authorities to appoint inspectors to investigate incidents, while granting workers the right to report accidents and unsafe conditions without retaliation. It also mandates continuous safety training, emergency preparedness, and the use of personal protective equipment, which employers must provide and maintain. Employers are required to ensure that all facilities meet safety standards through regular inspections, and violations may result in sanctions.

Marko Cortés, Chair of the International Organizations Committee, says that ratifying international safety standards empowers workers and promotes accountability across the mining value chain. “It protects health and life while obligating both government and employers to uphold safe conditions,” he adds.

The initiative builds on Mexico’s existing legal framework. The Federal Labor Law currently regulates mining work, particularly coal operations, while the NOM-023 standard outlines health and safety measures for underground and open-pit mines. However, Convention 176 broadens the scope by applying to all mineral extraction activities and reinforcing workers’ right to withdraw from unsafe conditions.

For industry operators, the Convention’s implementation would require stronger risk assessments, continuous inspections, and formal safety education programs. According to Paola Forero, Country Manager, DIPREM, building a safety culture is essential to prevent accidents. “Clients who fully invest in safety training have achieved zero accidents over six to 12 months,” says Forero.

The measure will next be reviewed by the Senate plenary. If approved, Mexico will deposit the ratification instrument with the ILO, and the Convention will enter into force 12 months after submission, reports El Economista. Its adoption is expected to enhance compliance across the mining sector and reinforce Mexico’s commitment to international labor standards.