Mexico’s Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) is introducing new measures to ease the administrative burden on micro and small businesses while strengthening the prevention of workplace accidents, Prevencionar México reported on 15 September 2026.
Digital premium assessment
At the core of the measures is the digital determination of premiums for the Work Risk Insurance (Seguro de Riesgos de Trabajo). Microenterprises can now opt out of the traditional annual filing and instead receive guidance on preventing workplace accidents. Companies with an average of fewer than ten employees could already choose between submitting their own assessment or paying their risk class’s standard rate; that choice remains, now supported by digital tools.
Guidance instead of penalties
New microenterprises receive digital and virtual support throughout their first year of operation, with an emphasis on preventive action rather than punitive enforcement. IMSS aims to familiarise employers with their occupational safety obligations from the start. According to IMSS, workplace accident rates are directly linked to how a company manages its risk insurance, and effective risk management should go beyond administrative compliance to include hazard identification, risk assessment, worker training, accident investigation and corrective action.
For EHS professionals worldwide, this is an example of how regulators are trying to support small employers – often the hardest segment to reach – through accessible digital tools rather than relying solely on inspection and fines.
Source: Riesgos de trabajo: el IMSS apuesta por más digitalización y prevención de accidentes en las microempresas, 15 September 2026
