Government Announces Gradual Reduction of Workweek in Mexico
Following the Mexican government’s announcement regarding the reduction of the workweek, the private sector (IP) has welcomed the promised gradual approach but asserts that it is insufficient. Their goal is to establish a project with specific, flexible rules tailored to the realities of various economic sectors.
Background on Key Figures and Relevance
On May 1st, Marath Bolaños, Secretary of the Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS), announced that starting June 2nd, dialogues between the government, businesses, and unions would commence to reduce the workweek and reach 40 hours no later than 2030.
Business Sector’s Perspective
Lorenzo Roel, President of the Labor Commission at the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE), told El Economista that these dialogues will help present the necessary analyses to understand which economic activities could be considered exceptions in workweek reduction.
- Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSEs): Roel highlights the possibility of MSEs facing increased costs in their products and services due to limited capacity. He emphasizes the need to consider which company sizes and activities could be exceptions or find formulas for a smooth transition without negatively impacting them.
- Flexible Work Hours: Roel stresses that the focus should not only be on gradually reducing work hours but also on finding formulas to flexibilize the work schedule, as many countries have done.
- Inclusive Dialogues: The CCE representative believes that all relevant parties, including various economic sectors, should participate in the dialogues to ensure that each sector’s specific needs are addressed for a successful work hour reduction.
Analyzing IP Proposals for Dialogue Tables
Although the private sector does not yet have specific proposals, Roel explains that they are gathering information from various productive sectors to analyze impacts and potential routes for the transition.
- Economic Analysis: The CCE intends to present an economic analysis of the impacts on diverse transition methods, aiming for a formula that does not negatively affect the country, businesses, or workers.
- Collaboration with Stakeholders: The CCE is working with associations, organizations, and both medium and large companies to gather necessary elements for fruitful dialogues with the government.
Anticipating Adequate Dialogue in Meeting Tables
Roel expresses confidence that the dialogue tables with authorities and unions will provide ample opportunity to review all sectors, leading to the best decisions for Mexico.
- Productivity Increase: A primary concern for the business sector is finding ways to increase national productivity, as higher productivity can simplify labor-intensive efforts.
