This article by Gerardo Hernández originally appeared in the October 9, 2025 edition of El Economista.
Without a presidential proposal, bills to reduce the working day continue to be filed in the Chamber of Deputies, most of them aimed at a 40-hour weekly limit. So far, there are 16 initiatives with this goal.
On October 7, two more bills were introduced to reduce the workday. One initiative was from the Workers Party (PT) and the other from the Citizen Movement (MC). The first proposal proposes a modification to the Federal Labor Law (LFT); the second seeks a constitutional reform.
Last month, the Baja California Congress sent a package of amendments to the Constitution and the Federal Labor Law to reduce the work week to 40 hours. This was the first legislative effort that included the incorporation of the Saturday bonus.
The Chamber of Deputies’ interest in reducing working hours has been evident. Since last May, when President Claudia Sheinbaum announced consultation forums to gather proposals and build a consensus-building project, seven work-hour reform initiatives have been introduced in the Lower House, almost half of all the accumulated bills.
This is part of what has been proposed in the projects:
Distribution of the 40 hours over six daysImplementation deadlines vary by company sizePhased transition over three yearsDaily shifts of maximum 7 hoursSaturday PrimePilot programSubsidies for companiesWage protectionInclude public sector workers.
Meanwhile, the Lower House’s Labor and Social Security Committee continues its active listening phase as part of its 40-Hour Roadmap program. During this phase, proposals are being collected in person or via email at com.trabajoyprevsoc@diputados.gob.mx.
Calls to continue the discussion have also been heard, even from the Chamber of Deputies itself. Last month, during the first National Meeting of Labor Committees of Local Congresses, federal representative Patricia Mercado and local representative Óscar Ortiz Arvayo of Sonora spoke out in favor of resuming the debate on the 40-hour workweek.
“We still need to take this great leap forward in reducing the workday to 40 hours. We know there will be some gradual approach, but we have to start now. We have everything we need to do it: the proposals, a ruling from the last legislature, a study, and a commitment from the President and the Labor Committee,” said Patricia Mercado.
Forum Results
Last July, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) concluded public forums to gather proposals for the development of a consensus project for the gradual reduction of the working day .
There were more than a dozen proposals, including timelines for gradual implementation, pilot programs, the creation of an Observatory or Committee to monitor the change, legal recognition of hourly pay, tax incentives, deductibility of benefits, among other points.
According to an analysis by the Political Strategy Group (GEP), the four major consensuses of these forums are:
Widespread improvement. Reducing working hours increases labor rights and productivity.Gradual change by industry. Its implementation should be gradual and sectoral.With data and prior assessment, it’s important to develop technical diagnoses and begin pilot programs.Complementary measures. Their implementation should be accompanied by tax incentives, training programs, and a focus on MSMEs.
However, the consulting firm’s analysis indicates that there are still no consensus on some points: the 2030 target, increases in labor costs, and the legal framework that needs to be reformed.
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