Introduction to the Reform
During the fourth plenary meeting of Morena’s parliamentary group at the San Lázaro Legislative Palace, Marath Bolaños López, the Secretary of Labor and Social Prevision, detailed the roadmap for implementing a constitutional reform that will reduce Mexico’s standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours.
Background on Marath Bolaños López
Marath Bolaños López is the current Mexican Secretary of Labor and Social Prevision, appointed in 2021 by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. As a prominent figure in labor policy, Bolaños López’s role is crucial in shaping Mexico’s workforce regulations and ensuring workers’ rights.
Reform Objectives
The reform aims to establish a healthier balance between personal and professional life, reduce work-related fatigue, and decrease accidents in the workplace. It targets 13.4 million workers currently exceeding the proposed limit, with 8.6 million working between 41 and 48 hours per week, while the rest work over 50 hours weekly.
Sectoral Distribution
The sectors with the highest number of beneficiaries include manufacturing, commerce, hospitality services, and transportation and storage.
Implementation Plan
The implementation will not be immediate but follow a gradual approach to allow economic units to adapt. After legislative approval and a transition period in 2026, the first reduction will take place on January 1, 2027, setting the limit at 46 hours.
- Subsequent annual reductions of two hours will continue until the 40-hour workweek is achieved by January 1, 2030.
- The reform guarantees that the decrease in working hours will not result in reduced wages or benefits for employees.
Additional Changes in the Reform
Alongside the reduction of regular work hours, the reform includes strict modifications to overtime regulations and protection for vulnerable sectors.
- Youth Protection: A constitutional ban will prevent minors under 18 from working overtime, and a maximum of 12 additional hours per week will be set for the rest, which must always be voluntary.
- Electronic Recording: Employers will be required to maintain electronic records of work hours, eliminating ambiguity in hourly counting.
Link to Agricultural Export Labor Certification
Bolaños López connected this reform to a broader labor justice package, including the new Agricultural Export Labor Certification. This parallel initiative aims to formalize approximately 200,000 seasonal agricultural workers in high-value crops, ensuring that Mexico’s export success translates into social security and basic rights for fieldworkers. This strengthens the country’s competitiveness under the US-Canada trade agreement standards.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main goal of this reform? The primary objective is to establish a healthier work-life balance, reduce fatigue and accidents in the workplace, and benefit 13.4 million workers.
- Which sectors will be most affected by this reform? The sectors with the highest number of beneficiaries are manufacturing, commerce, hospitality services, and transportation and storage.
- When will the 40-hour workweek be fully implemented? The reduction will occur gradually, with the limit set at 46 hours by January 1, 2027, and reaching the 40-hour workweek by January 1, 2030.
- How will the reform protect vulnerable workers? The reform includes strict modifications to overtime regulations, a ban on youth overtime work, and mandatory electronic recording of work hours.
- What is the Agricultural Export Labor Certification? This initiative aims to formalize around 200,000 seasonal agricultural workers in high-value crops, ensuring social security and basic rights for fieldworkers.
