At a glance
- President Sheinbaum announced an upcoming bill to reduce the standard work week from 48 to 40 hours.
- The bill will amend articles 59, 69 and 71 of the Federal Labor Law.
- It is expected to be presented in November 2025 by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
- A gradual implementation is anticipated, starting in May 2026.
- The proposal reflects a broader push to improve work-life balance and modernise labor standards.
Update: 4 March 2026
On 3 March 2026, the constitutional reform to reduce the maximum workweek from 48 to 40 hours was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation and entered into force on the same day. Therefore, the Mexican Congress has a 90-day period to amend the Federal Labour Law accordingly as from 3 March.
The outlined timetable and key protections are as below.
Update: 3 March 2026
On 24 February 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved the draft constitutional reform aimed at reducing the maximum workweek from 48 to 40 hours and, by 26 February, 17 local Congresses had already approved said bill. Therefore, the constitutional reform will be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation in the coming days. Once the reform is published, the Mexican Congress will have a 90-day period to amend the Federal Labour Law accordingly.
The proposal envisages a gradual reduction in weekly hours, decreasing by two hours each year until the 40‑hour limit is reached. The planned timetable is:
- 2026: 48 hours.
- 2027: 46 hours.
- 2028: 44 hours.
- 2029: 42 hours.
- 2030: 40 hours.
The reform introduces several key protections and requirements, including:
- A guaranteed paid day of rest for every six consecutive days worked.
- Overtime may be performed in exceptional circumstances, and it must be paid at two times the regular hourly rate.
- A cap of 12 overtime hours per week, which may be allocated across up to four days, with no more than four hours on any given day.
- Any overtime beyond these limits must be paid at three times the regular hourly rate.
- Individuals under the age of 18 cannot perform overtime.
- The reduction in hours must not result in any decrease in pay or employment benefits.
Update: 9 December 2025
President Claudia Sheinbaum presented a bill in December 2025 to amend article 123, section A, subsections IV and XI of the Mexican Constitution. The proposed reform seeks to reduce the maximum weekly working hours from 48 to 40 gradually.
The bill includes a gradual implementation plan, from 2027 to 2030, allowing employers and employees time to adapt to the new standard.
Employers should begin assessing potential operational impacts and prepare for compliance once the bill progresses through the legislative process.
The bill also proposes to increase the permitted overtime from 9 to 12 hours a week and the prohibition of minors to work overtime.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will present a bill in November 2025 to amend articles 59, 69 and 71 of the Federal Labor Law. The proposed reform seeks to reduce the maximum weekly working hours from 48 to 40.
The bill is expected to include a gradual implementation plan, beginning in May 2026, allowing employers and employees time to adapt to the new standard.
Employers should begin assessing potential operational impacts and prepare for compliance once the bill progresses through the legislative process.
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