Introduction to the Work Hour Reduction Debate
In the context of a proposal to reduce the workweek from 48 to 40 hours, experts at a forum organized by Mexico’s Secretariat of Labor and Social Prevision (STPS) discussed various structural inequalities, including the gender gap, caregiving responsibilities, and barriers to market entry.
Lorena Rodríguez de León: Gender Division of Labor and Vulnerability
Lorena Rodríguez de León, Director of the Economics Faculty at Mexico’s National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), emphasized that the gender division of labor is a structural factor leading to increased vulnerability for women, risking poverty and limiting their participation in the labor market.
- Key Point: The unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities disproportionately affects women, particularly those in poverty, perpetuating gender inequality and widening the gender gap.
- Policy Implication: Recognize that caregiving work should not undermine other rights; the national care system should be established to address this issue.
Marianela Fernández Islas: Women’s Double Burden and Labor Precarity
Marianela Fernández Islas, Coordinator of Labor Justice Strategy at Oxfam Mexico, agreed that women face a greater burden of unpaid work, limiting their labor market entry.
- Key Point: Mexico faces challenges related to labor informality and precarity, disproportionately affecting women, youth, and those with limited access to protection networks.
- Policy Implication: Address the imbalance between decision-makers’ time and those who implement decisions, ensuring fair wages and secure working conditions.
Fernández Islas also highlighted the concept of “poor time,” which predominantly affects women engaged in double or triple shifts of caregiving work without recognition or compensation.
- Key Point: Reducing work hours is not just a conciliation measure but a redistributive tool to review care time. Any labor reform will be incomplete without acknowledging women’s unpaid care work.
Experts’ Proposals
Rodolfo Gómez Zurita, a member of the Frente Nacional Por Las 40 Horas (National Front for 40 Hours), advocated for immediate reduction to five working days with at least two days of rest, without salary or benefit cuts. He also proposed a wealth tax.
Juan José Sierra Álvarez, President of Coparmex (Mexican Employers’ Confederation), suggested a phased implementation by sectors, guided by a tripartite committee to evaluate annual macroeconomic conditions.
Pedro Haces Barba, General Secretary of CATEM (Mexican Union of Technical and Allied Workers) and federal deputy for Morena, stated that the 40-hour reform would be a legislative priority starting September 1.
Eduardo Chávez Hidalgo, President of Canacope (National Council of Cultures and Arts of Querétaro), requested exemption of the work hour reduction for the tertiary sector, fearing potential job cuts or business closures.
Liliana San Martín Castillo, Querétaro’s Labor Secretary, emphasized ensuring more humane work hours without compromising business viability.
Marath Baruch Bolaños López, Secretary of Labor and Social Prevision, mentioned gathering all proposals discussed in the forums and integrating them into actions to improve workers’ working conditions and income.
