It will be implemented poco a poco, the Mexican way
Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, recently addressed efforts by her administration to reform the country’s traditional 48-hour work week. This standard, established in 1917 by Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution, enshrines labor rights, including an eight-hour workday and a 48-hour work week.
Although there have been recent proposals to reduce the work week to 40 hours, these reforms have stalled in Congress. Until signed into law, the 48-hour week remains the official standard. During a recent “people’s morning” press conference, Sheinbaum confirmed a 40-hour work week is on her administration’s agenda.
At the National Palace, a reporter noted that the proposal has been under discussion since it was introduced in the previous Chamber of Deputies. However, it failed to advance due to a lack of agreement in the Senate and Congress.
“We are working on a consensus-based plan. If one can’t be reached, we’ll present the proposal anyway,” Sheinbaum said, referencing Labor Secretary Marath’s progress on the issue.
While she gave no timeline, she emphasized the goal is a reform that benefits workers without harming businesses.
In December 2024, business leaders, including Carlos Slim, voiced dissatisfaction with the proposal. Sheinbaum stated the change would be gradual.
“Some industries already have a 40-hour week; others will require discussions. Progress has been made, and implementation is targeted for next year,” she said months ago.
Mexico has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since the 1950s, which promotes social justice and labor rights. Although the current 48-hour standard aligns with ILO conventions, there is also a 40-hour week convention Mexico has yet to ratify. Lawmakers are under increasing pressure to do so, which would significantly affect the country’s overtime laws.
The eight-hour workday in Mexico must include: 1) a lunch break of at least one hour, 2) the break must be uninterrupted, 3) it cannot be split into two half-hours, and 4) the worker is not considered at the employer’s disposal during this time.
In December 2023, then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) urged lawmakers to consider a 40-hour week. Mexico, recently ranked the third happiest country in the world, could see even greater well-being if workers had more time to spend with their families. ,