Ley del Seguro Social
The Ley del Seguro Social (Social Security Law) establishes the Mexican social security system, administered by the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). The law governs the registration and contribution of workers and employers to the social security system, covering health insurance, maternity benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement pensions, and workplace accident compensation. The 1997 reform introduced a defined contribution pension system to replace the previous defined benefit model, a change that has been widely debated.
Legal area: Social welfare law provides the statutory framework for social security, pensions, and social protection programs.
Year enacted: 1997
Full text: https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/htm/ley_seguro_social.htm
Key Provisions
- Art. 3: Obligation of workers and employers to contribute
- Art. 41-45: Health insurance services (servicios médicos)
- Art. 47-51: Maternity benefits (asignaciones familiares)
- Art. 55-62: Disability and life insurance (invalidez y vida)
- Art. 154-162: Retirement pensions (jubilación y pensiones)
- Art. 167-187: Workplace accident compensation (riesgos de trabajo)
- Art. 202-210: Worker registration and employer obligations
Significance
The Social Security Law is a cornerstone of Mexico’s social protection system, covering millions of workers in the formal economy. The 1997 pension reform shifted from a solidarity-based defined benefit system to individual capitalization accounts, generating significant debate about adequacy of retirement income. The IMSS is one of the largest social security institutions in Latin America, providing health services, disability insurance, and pensions to contributors and their families.