President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is pushing for reduction in work hours—but can business and labor reach a consensus?
Mexico’s federal government has pledged a gradual transition to a 40-hour workweek (from 48 hours) by the close of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in 2030, in what could mark one of the country's most significant labor reforms in decades.
The announcement, made on Labor Day, followed sustained public pressure from workers and unions calling for better work-life balance.
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños confirmed the administration's commitment during a gathering with labor leaders at the National Palace.
“We are convinced that giving workers eight extra hours of free time each week will contribute to national development,” he stated, referencing the 40-hour week as item 60 among Sheinbaum’s 100 campaign promises, according to Mexico News Daily.
President Sheinbaum added that implementation of the shorter workweek would be informed by wide-ranging public consultation.
“We realize we can’t execute this reform from one day to the next, so it is important to agree how it can best be achieved,” she explained.
The planned dialogue, running from June 2 to July 7, will include input from workers, union leaders, employers, and academic experts.
The Labor Ministry, as reported by Mexico News Daily, will lead the consultation process through a series of forums across major Mexican cities. The goal is to gather diverse perspectives on how best to adopt the 40-hour standard without jeopardizing productivity or wages.
“The goal is to dignify the labor of all workers,” Bolaños said. “This will add hours to [workers’] lives, boost family welfare and increase employee happiness.”
This push for reform has been building since 2023, when Morena party Deputy Susana Prieto introduced a proposal to amend Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution to mandate a reduced workweek.
Despite initial momentum, business resistance stalled legislative progress. Mexico News Daily notes that although a commission was formed to evaluate the initiative, the proposal was never formally debated in committee.
Since the new Congress took office in September 2024, lawmakers have introduced 10 bills proposing variations of the 40-hour week. Among them is a plan by Movimiento Ciudadano Deputy Juan Ignacio Zavala advocating a government-led pilot program to assess how shorter work hours affect productivity, said Mexico News Daily. His proposal also suggests potential exemptions or subsidies for certain sectors.
Another proposal by Deputy Manuel Vázquez outlines a tiered implementation schedule based on business size. Under his bill, large companies would comply within six months, while micro-businesses would have up to three-and-a-half years.
Alternative approaches have also been tabled, said Mexico News Daily. One version would phase in changes over two years, with firms reorganizing staffing in year one, followed by a gradual shift to a five-and-a-half-day workweek before full implementation.
Labor Party Deputy José Alberto Benavides introduced yet another variant, proposing a 7-hour workday, totaling 42 hours weekly, while preserving the six-day schedule.
The ongoing reform conversation has stirred apprehension among employers, especially regarding potential productivity dips and increased labor costs, said Mexico News Daily. In response, business leaders have offered alternative frameworks.
Proposals include switching from daily to hourly minimum wage systems, introducing more flexible scheduling, and providing targeted relief for small enterprises most affected by the reform.
As reported by Mexico News Daily, the government appears committed to reaching a consensus that aligns with broader development goals while avoiding abrupt disruptions. For Sheinbaum's administration, the 40-hour workweek is both a symbolic and practical pivot toward a more worker-centric labor landscape.
