In commemoration of Labor Day, the Mexican government announced an important amendment to reduce the workweek from 48 hours to 40 hours progressively. This change is set to start this year and aims for completion by 2030.
The initiative is designed to align Mexico's labor standards with international norms and improve living conditions for the workforce.
To ensure the successful implementation of this reduction, the federal government has announced the creation of a national dialogue table, which will include representatives from various productive sectors, business chambers, labor unions and labor law specialists.
The objective is to generate consensus and define an operational transition model that can be applied nationwide. Dialogues are scheduled to take place from June 2 to July 7, 2025, before the regular legislative process begins.
The employer sector should start evaluating the potential risks and impacts of this initiative. A few key points to consider include the following:
- Progressive Reduction of the Workweek: This change will require structural adjustments in shift organization and operational coverage, especially in industries with continuous schedules or extended shifts.
- Increase in Overtime Costs: Without proper adjustments, companies might encounter a significant rise in overtime payments, putting added pressure on human resources (HR) departments.
- Redesign Hiring Schemes: It will be important to explore mechanisms such as hourly hiring, mixed shifts or staggered schedules to maintain productivity while adhering to the new regulations.
