Introduction
The regulation of work hours is a central topic in global discussions, with 14 countries, including Mexico, either transitioning or implementing changes related to working hours. According to Adecco Group’s report “Labor Market Perspectives and Policies 2026,” Latin America is the second-largest region driving these changes, just behind Europe.
Global Trends in Work Hours Regulation
Adecco Group’s report highlights a predominant global trend in labor policy: the reform of work hours regulation. This includes determining daily and weekly working hours, as well as primes and conditions for specific work hours, such as night shifts and weekends. This trend presents various challenges for companies, including integrating increased hourly wages into business models and labor cost structures due to reduced working hours.
Moreover, time management must become more intentional. Leaders and HR departments need to collaborate on reassigning shifts, exploring new scheduling options, and determining how alternative production models can balance labor flexibility with stable productivity.
Mexico’s Work Hours Transition
In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum is pushing for a constitutional and Federal Labor Law (LFT) reform to reduce the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours. The proposed bill, sent to the Senate in December, outlines a gradual transition.
- Implementation Timeline: If approved in its current form, the reform will take effect on May 1, 2023, giving companies six months to prepare for the initial two-hour reduction starting January 1, 2027.
- Gradual Reduction: Over the subsequent years, the workweek will be reduced by two hours annually until reaching 40 hours in 2030.
- Overtime Adjustments: The reform also includes a gradual increase in the allowed overtime hours, raising the weekly limit from 9 to 12 hours. Additionally, triple-time hours will be capped at four hours per week.
With the reduced workweek, employers will be required to maintain an electronic record of employees’ working hours, which may be requested by authorities. The Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STPS) will issue regulations for managing these records.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of global labor discussions? The regulation of work hours is a central topic, with countries worldwide reforming rules on daily and weekly working hours, as well as conditions for specific work hours.
- What challenges do these changes present for companies? Companies face challenges such as integrating increased hourly wages into business models and labor cost structures due to reduced working hours. Additionally, intentional time management becomes crucial, requiring collaboration between leaders and HR departments to reassign shifts and explore new scheduling options.
- What is Mexico’s proposed workweek reduction? Mexico aims to reduce the standard 48-hour workweek to 40 hours through a constitutional and Federal Labor Law reform.
- When will the reduction take effect, and how gradual is the transition? If approved, the reform will take effect on May 1, 2023. Companies will have six months to prepare for the initial two-hour reduction starting January 1, 2027. The workweek will be reduced by two hours annually until reaching 40 hours in 2030.
- How will overtime regulations change under the new workweek? The reform gradually increases the allowed overtime hours, raising the weekly limit from 9 to 12 hours. Triple-time hours will be capped at four hours per week.
- What new requirements will employers face regarding working hours? Employers will be required to maintain an electronic record of employees’ working hours, which may be requested by authorities. The Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STPS) will issue regulations for managing these records.
