Mexican Government Seeks to Gradually Reduce Workweek to 40 Hours
The phased reduction aims to preserve wages and benefits while addressing Mexico's long working hours, with a two-hour cut per year starting in 2027, says Labor Secretary Bolaños.
- Dec. 3, Mexico's federal government introduced a proposal to reduce the statutory workweek from 48 to 40 hours without cutting wages or benefits, and the constitutional reform will be sent to the Senate and require Congress and state legislatures' approval.
- Lawmakers from the Morena party and several unions first pushed a 40-hour workweek in 2022, and on April 25, 2023, the Constitutional Points Committee in the Chamber of Deputies approved a draft that stalled by late 2023.
- Implementing the change gradually, the proposal calls for two-hour reductions each year until reaching a 40-hour workweek, Labor Secretary Marath Bolaños presented.
- Unions and workers' organizations welcomed the plan as social justice, while some Mexican business groups warned of costs and staff cuts; the private sector backed a phased reform and President Claudia Sheinbaum said the framework was unanimously agreed.
- The OECD reports Mexico among countries with the longest working hours, a factor officials cite for the reform’s focus on employee well-being, while past lack of business consensus and the election cycle kept the Senate from taking up the initiative.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Labor ministry unveils business-backed plan to reduce workweek to 40 hours
Mexico’s standard workweek will be reduced by two hours annually in the coming years to reach 40 hours in 2030, according to a proposal presented by the federal government on Wednesday. Mexico currently has a standard 48-hour, six-day workweek. The establishment of a 40-hour workweek over five days — a demand of workers across the country — requires a reform to the Mexican Constitution. If approved by Congress, Mexico’s standard workweek will be…
It has been more than a century that the working day in Mexico has remained immovable, until now. The Secretariat of Labor has announced this Wednesday that it will send to the Legislative Power the proposal to reduce the working day from 48 to 40 hours per week in the country from 2027. The Secretary of Labor, Marath Bolaños, explained that the initiative proposes a reduction of two hours per year in this day from 2027, until reaching 40 hours …
The federal government and the leaders of the private initiative achieved a principle of agreement to translate into the Constitution the 40-hour work week and today could be announced, according to sources with knowledge of the subject. Leaders of various business chambers and government representatives, led by the Secretary of Labor, Marath Bolaños, advanced in the consensus for reform by which the work week would be reduced from 48 to 40 hour…
Claudia Sheinbaum presented the plan to take the working day to 40 hours a week. The announcement generated expectation, although the change will be gradual and will not be completed until 2030. The reduction will begin in 2027, advancing two hours a year. The Secretary of Labor, Marath Bolaños, explained that the initiative includes new rules for the hours [...] The entry Mexico leads to the working day of 40 hours: this will be the transition …
It celebrates the leader of the Autonomous Confederation of Workers and Employees of Mexico (CATEM), Pedro Haces, the announcements made in labor matters by the Government of the Republic. “These two historical events that were announced today in the National Palace. This... Full note »
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium









