Mexico continues the legislative process toward the reduction of the 40-hour working week

Mexico - 03 / 04 / 2026

The constitutional reform sets a gradual reduction until 2030, maintains wages and benefits, and redefines overtime limits, forcing companies to reorganize shifts and processes to sustain their productivity.

On March 3, 2026, the reform to sections IV and XI of section A of article 123 of the Mexican Constitution regarding the reduction of the working day was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

Among the key points, the following were approved and published:

The maximum working hours will be set at 40 weekly hours, to be reduced gradually.
The reduction of the workweek, which will go from 48 to 40 hours, will be implemented gradually between 2026 and 2030. In this regard, the workweek will be reduced by 2 hours per year, beginning on January 1, 2027.
For every 6 working days, employees must enjoy at least 1 full day of rest with full pay.
With regard to overtime, it is established at the constitutional level a limit of 12 hours per week, which may be distributed in up to 4 hours per day, without exceeding four times within a one-week period, while maintaining compensation of an additional 100% of the salary corresponding to ordinary hours (double overtime pay). In the event that overtime beyond the established limit is required, the employer must pay an additional 200% of the salary corresponding to ordinary hours (triple overtime pay).
Under the transitional articles, neither salaries nor employee benefits may be reduced.

Once published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the initiative grants the Congress of the Union a period of 90 days to carry out the corresponding reforms to secondary legislation (Federal Labor Law).

The approval of the constitutional reform represents significant challenges for the employer sector, as it will require the reorganization of working schedules, production processes, and hiring schemes in order to maintain competitiveness.