Understanding the Megapuente
In November, a megapuente will commence due to the Día de Muertos commemoration, starting with the last day of October. The preceding day, October 31, is celebrated as Halloween, a festivity originating from the United Kingdom’s All Saints’ Day, which has gained popularity in the United States and Mexico. The following day, November 1, is the Day of All Saints, and November 2 is Día de los Fieles Difuntos. Although these dates hold significant importance in Mexico, the Federal Labor Law (FLL) does not classify them as mandatory rest days.
When Does the Megapuente Occur?
According to the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) school calendar, October 31 is designated as the Consejo Técnico Escolar (CTE) day, an activity exclusively for school directors and teaching staff. The CTE is a monthly meeting held on the last Friday of each month, during which educators discuss and plan strategies to enhance educational quality.
As a result, students in basic education (pre-school, primary, and secondary) will enjoy the megapuente, starting from October 31 and concluding on November 2. They will return to classes on November 3.
Who is Eligible for the Megapuente?
The megapuente does not apply to all workers; it specifically targets students in basic education. For formal, regular sector employees, these days are not mandatory rest days as per the Federal Labor Law. Thus, November 1, 2, and 3 will be regular working days unless otherwise decided by the company.
However, if you work on November 2, remember that your employer must pay the dominical premium, as stipulated in Article 71 of the Federal Labor Law.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the megapuente? The megapuente is a period of extended rest for specific groups, in this case, basic education students, due to the Día de Muertos commemoration.
- When does the megapuente begin and end? It starts on October 31, when the CTE meeting takes place, and concludes on November 2.
- Who is eligible for the megapuente? Only students in basic education (pre-school, primary, and secondary) are eligible for this extended rest period.
- What about formal, regular sector employees? These workers are not entitled to mandatory rest on November 1, 2, and 3 unless their company decides otherwise. They must be paid the dominical premium if they work on November 2, as per the Federal Labor Law.
