Article 134 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law lists the duties of workers. Fraction III requires them to “desempeñar el servicio bajo la dirección del patrón o de su representante, a cuya autoridad estarán subordinados en todo lo concerniente al trabajo” (perform the service under the direction of the employer or the employer’s representative, to whose authority they are subordinate in everything that concerns the work).

Article 47 lists the reasons for which an employer may dismiss a worker without liability. Fraction XI names “desobedecer el trabajador al patrón o a sus representantes, sin causa justificada, siempre que se trate del trabajo contratado” (disobedience of the worker toward the employer or the employer’s representatives, without justified cause, when it concerns the work contracted for).