Mexico's Chamber of Deputies advanced the reform to reduce the workweek from 48 to 40 hours, approved unanimously in united committees. The measure will be implemented gradually until 2030, without salary cuts. While it does not include two rest days, it garners bipartisan support amid debates on further adjustments.
On Monday, the united commissions of Constitutional Points and Labor and Social Welfare of Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved the labor reform proposal without changes, presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The initiative received unanimous support from the 61 deputies present and sets a gradual reduction of the workweek: 48 hours in 2026; 46 in 2027; 44 in 2028; 42 in 2029; and 40 hours in 2030, without cuts to wages, salaries, or benefits.
The reform maintains that for every six days of work, employees will have at least one day of rest with full pay. This point sparked debate, as the opposition, including PAN, PRI, and Movimiento Ciudadano, insisted on recognizing two rest days for five workdays, plus incentives to mitigate impacts on employment and productivity. Meanwhile, Morena, PT, and PVEM defended the gradual approach to allow sector-specific adjustments without affecting salaries.
Labor and Social Welfare Secretary Marath Bolaños backed the proposal and announced an electronic system to monitor compliance once in effect. He detailed that overtime will be paid at 100 percent additional, limited to 12 hours per week (distributed up to four hours daily over a maximum of four days), and double if exceeded. The rule prohibits overtime for those under 18.
In context, Tereso Medina Ramírez recently assumed the presidency of the Confederación de Trabajadores de México (CTM) for the 2026-2032 period, committing to defend this reform, strengthen real wages, and engage in dialogue with Sheinbaum's government and the private sector. Elected at the CTM's XVII National Congress before over 4.5 million affiliates, Medina will also advocate for improvements in health, housing, and tax reviews on benefits like year-end bonuses.
The opinion will be discussed in the full San Lázaro Plenary, where reservations and modifications will be presented. Bolaños highlighted prior labor advances, such as minimum wage increases and the elimination of abusive outsourcing.
