Overview of Legislative Priorities in Mexico
The Mexican legislative bodies, specifically the Commissions of Labor and Prevision Social in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, have maintained a focus on reducing work hours among their legislative priorities. This agenda also includes introducing new benefits and aligning labor laws with international guidelines.
Chamber of Deputies’ Progress
Under the leadership of Diputada Maiella Gómez Maldonado, the Chamber of Deputies’ Commission is pursuing its “40-hour Route” program, which involves a national listening process to gather proposals from individuals, businesses, unions, workers, and interested parties. This input will inform the discussion of the proposal that the Secretariat of Labor and Social Prevision (STPS) will submit.
Gómez Maldonado stated in an interview with El Economista’s podcast “Coffee Break”: “We are in the national listening stage. Everyone interested in this topic can send us messages through the Commission’s microsite or contact us directly, so we can listen to their ideas and incorporate them into our understanding of expectations as we prepare for the reform.”
The legislator also announced that the working commission will invite presidents of corresponding local legislative commissions to include regional expectations in the debate.
Gómez Maldonado emphasized that reducing work hours presents an opportunity to provide people with more quality time for their families, personal rest, or learning new skills. Although no definitive date has been set for the Chamber of Deputies to receive the government’s proposal, she expressed confidence that once it arrives, they will begin analyzing and debating the issue, aiming for a unanimous decision.
Senate’s Progress
In the Senate’s Commission of Labor and Prevision Social, reducing work hours remains a priority. However, its discussion in this legislative session depends on progress made in the Chamber of Origen. Senadora Geovanna Bañuelos, the commission’s president, confirmed this in an interview with El Economista.
Bañuelos reiterated that there are conditions to analyze and potentially approve the reform, though it may have to wait until the next legislative period since the process begins in the Chamber of Deputies.
She highlighted that reducing working hours is a global trend, and Mexico cannot fall behind. Bañuelos also pointed out that international evidence supports shorter work hours, leading to increased productivity, reduced stress and accidents, and fostering innovation and talent retention.
Other Legislative Priorities
Apart from the 40-hour workweek, other priorities include:
- Permits for mourning leave
- STPS’s authority to conduct equal pay inspections
- Reform to ensure minimum wage and protect tips in service establishments
These priorities also encompass harmonizing the regulatory framework with international standards, primarily the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations’ Agenda 2030.
Bañuelos mentioned reforms such as the salary transparency bill, which aims to ensure all workers understand how their salaries are calculated and compared with others performing similar work, helping identify and eliminate unjustified salary disparities.
Additional Priorities in the Agenda
The Chamber of Deputies’ Commission of Labor also prioritizes occupational health prevention and providing employees with days off for preventive medical exams.
Moreover, promoting mental health care in the workplace and encouraging women’s participation in leadership roles are also on the agenda.
