Overview of the Legislative Interest in Shortening Workweeks
The reduction of working hours has consistently appeared on Mexico’s legislative agenda. During the LXVI legislature, a total of 11 proposals have been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, all aiming to decrease work hours. The primary approach suggested by these proposals is a constitutional reform.
Recent Developments and Key Proposals
The most recent proposal, presented by Diputado Manuel Baldenebro (Morena), has been handed over to the Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. This initiative is unique as it not only advocates for a maximum workweek of five days but also specifies that the 40 hours can be distributed within this period.
Among all the proposals, only one contemplates a reform to the Federal Labor Law (LFT) to establish a daily work limit of 7 hours, resulting in a reduction from 48 to 42 hours per week.
Since 2023, when the discussion began with an approved draft in the House of Representatives’ committees, the latest proposals have matured with elements such as gradual transition or phased implementation based on company size.
Other ideas include the creation of pilot programs, prohibiting wage reductions alongside work hour decreases, and incorporating government dependencies and agencies.
Government Involvement and Consensus
The legislative interest in advancing a workweek reform has been present since the start of the current legislature. The first initiative, by Diputado Juan Ignacio Zavala (MC), was submitted in October 2024, along with a pilot program. The project includes a subsidy system.
The Federal Labor and Social Prevision Institute (STPS) head, Marath Bolaños, has repeatedly emphasized that the government’s proposal will be a consensus through social dialogue, following two paths: gradual transition and achieving the 40-hour target by 2030.
Bolaños has also highlighted that any agreements reached will be respected, just as in previous labor reforms.
Forums and Key Measures
So far, STPS has conducted five of the six forums planned to gather proposals. The final forum will take place in Cancún. In these spaces, over a dozen measures have been shared by both the business and union sectors, experts, and international organizations to support a gradual reduction in working hours.
Some of these measures include sector-differentiated rules, flexible norm application, review of overtime regulations, fiscal incentives, technical support for small businesses, pilot programs, and a dedicated body to monitor and evaluate implementation.
Despite the consensus, differences remain. While both the business sector and unions support a gradual transition, they do not align with the government’s goal of achieving 40 hours progressively by 2030.
The business sector requests a yearly reduction of one hour, implying an 8-year transition. Meanwhile, unions support gradualism but aim to accomplish the change by 2027, reducing hours by four per year.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of the 11 proposals? All proposals aim to reduce working hours, primarily through a constitutional reform.
- What makes Diputado Manuel Baldenebro’s proposal unique? It specifies that the 40 hours can be distributed within a five-day workweek.
- Which proposal considers reforming the Federal Labor Law? Only one proposal contemplates amending the LFT to limit daily work hours to 7, reducing the weekly limit from 48 to 42 hours.
- What elements have been incorporated into recent proposals? Gradual transition, phased implementation based on company size, pilot programs, and preventing wage reductions alongside work hour decreases.
- What is the government’s approach to labor reform? The government aims for a consensus through social dialogue, focusing on gradual transition and achieving 40-hour workweeks by 2030.
- What measures have been discussed in the STPS forums? Measures include sector-differentiated rules, flexible norm application, overtime regulation review, fiscal incentives, technical support for small businesses, pilot programs, and a dedicated implementation monitoring body.
- What are the differing views between the business sector and unions regarding the transition? The business sector requests a yearly reduction of one hour (8-year transition), while unions aim for a four-hour yearly reduction, targeting the 40-hour workweek by 2027.
