Introduction to the Forum Series
On June 19, the first forum was held to create a consensus project for reducing the workweek to 40 hours. The Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS) organized this event, which will be replicated in five more cities until July 7. The aim is to collaboratively define foundational principles for the gradual implementation of this measure.
Key Speakers and Their Perspectives
Marath Bolaños, head of STPS, emphasized that these dialogues aim to present proposals and construct collective consensuses that promote common well-being. She highlighted the need for changes to build agreements and define a collaborative plan based on continuous dialogue.
Quiahuitl Chávez Domínguez, Subsecretary of Employment and Productive Labor, outlined the reform’s main axes: achieving 40-hour workweeks and gradual implementation by 2030. Based on this foundation, they will seek agreements for implementation and add supplementary elements.
Forum Participants and Their Proposals
The forum included representatives from the business sector, labor unions, international organizations, academics, and labor law specialists. They shared their proposals and concerns regarding work hours reduction.
Business Sector Proposals
- Gradual reduction of work hours accompanied by complementary measures to prevent negative impacts on the economy or inflation.
- Sector-based, function-based, company size-based, regional, and federal entity-based implementation to minimize negative effects.
- Various reduction schemes, such as daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly work schedules, accrued hours, and extraordinary work schedules to maintain and increase productivity.
- Incentivize reduction by allowing social benefits deduction and adjusting the subsidy table.
- Maintain exceptions for self-regulated workers and create a tripartite commission to oversee and periodically evaluate the reform’s implementation.
Labor Union Proposals
- Support gradual reduction over two years.
- Establish a Saturday premium to recognize extra effort for those working on Saturdays.
- Flexibility by sector to avoid direct job creation impacts.
- Establish a legislative and technical commission to study the legal impacts of the reform this year.
- Implement the reduction in four stages: initial constitutional and LFT reforms to set hour limits and ensure full salary payment, starting reduction in stable public and private sectors, creating a social observatory to evaluate impacts, and eventually extending the workweek to all formal sectors.
International Organizations’ Proposals
- Emphasize flexibility and sector-based implementation.
- Consider social and economic aspects.
- Take specific measures to mitigate reduction effects and maximize positive impacts on workers’ well-being.
- Analyze international experiences of other countries reducing work hours and consider the sectoral heterogeneity in Mexico.
Academic Perspectives
Mexican labor costs remain low compared to Latin American countries, allowing for a potential 40-hour workweek reduction as proposed by the federal government.
- Current salaries in Mexico cover less than two basic food baskets.
- Mexican workers have longer hours than their European counterparts, who work 32 hours weekly.
Consensus on Key Principles
The forum participants agreed on the importance of a gradual, flexible, and sector-based reduction project.
Next Steps
The forums conclude on July 7. Afterward, the STPS will present conclusions and subsequently announce the final project, which will be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on September 1, marking the beginning of the regular session.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the purpose of the forum series? The aim was to create a consensus project for reducing the workweek to 40 hours gradually, flexibly, and sector-based.
- Who participated in the forum? Representatives from the business sector, labor unions, international organizations, academics, and labor law specialists participated.
- What were the main proposals discussed? Proposals included gradual reduction, sector-based implementation, various reduction schemes, Saturday premiums, flexibility by sector, and analyzing international experiences.
- When will the final project be announced? The STPS will announce the final project after the forums conclude on July 7, which will then be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on September 1.
