The reduction of the workweek will become a reality

Workers in Baja California Sur questioned the decision by the Chamber of Deputies to rule out two days of rest, while the business sector claims that broader consensus was lacking.

trabajador en la paz bcs — From now until 2030, the workweek will decrease by two hours each year without affecting salary or other rights. / Photo: Alberto Cota / El Sudcaliforniano

Gilberto Santisteban Flores

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La Paz, Baja California Sur.- The constitutional reform to reduce the workweek from 48 to 40 hours was promulgated in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), after the initiative was approved by more than 17 state legislatures.

On Thursday, February 26, it was approved by the 17th Legislature of the Congress of the State of Baja California Sur, becoming the 11th state parliament to give its approval. In the following days, other state legislative bodies did the same.

With this, the transition toward this change begins, gradually reducing the workweek in a process that will start in January 2027 and conclude toward the end of the presidential term of Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

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Although one political wing highlights this approval as a substantial step forward for labor rights and the dignity of workers, contrasting opinions have emerged among leaders from the business and labor sectors.

On one hand, federal deputy from the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), Manuel Cota Cárdenas, stated that this labor reform stems from a workers’ struggle promoted by Claudia Sheinbaum.

“The President took the initiative to generate dialogue and consensus among labor unions in order to listen to the views of those who form the strongest link in the economy—the workers of this country—but also to reach agreement with the private sector,” he said.

“While it is true that the labor reform represents a victory for workers, the government also has the capacity, need, and responsibility to build consensus and balance in the decisions that are made. That is why a gradual model has been proposed,” he explained.

The legislator commented that the reform is not against companies nor intended to pit workers against employers, but rather seeks a balance between productivity and human dignity.

“That is the main objective of the reform: that your life does not slip away at work and that you can truly have a balance between family life, recreation, quality time, and economic stability,” he said.

The federal deputy for Baja California Sur reiterated the benefits this reform will bring to workers. / Photo: Courtesy / Manuel Cota Facebook

In this context, he emphasized that it is necessary to recognize that Mexico cannot continue being the country that works the most without necessarily being the country where people live the best.

Now, after the approval, the debate focuses on how to ensure the reform works in reality, without simulation and while protecting the economy.

Changes and safeguards in the reform

Manuel Cota recalled that the most significant change proposes a gradual scheme through 2030, reducing the workweek from 48 hours to 40 hours—two hours per year—aiming to increase productivity with less working time.

“To give you an example, according to OECD data, people in Mexico work 2,200 hours per year, while in similar countries they work around 1,700 hours annually. So more hours worked does not necessarily mean greater productivity,” he clarified.

“It is important to say this clearly: salaries and benefits cannot be reduced due to this reduction in hours. The goal is to revalue each hour worked, and for the government to oversee, support, and inspect the safeguards included in this reform,” he explained.

trabajador la paz bcs 2 — **Although the workweek reduction will become a reality, the two additional rest days requested by the labor sector were not included.** / Photo: Alberto Cota / El Sudcaliforniano

Overtime will be capped at 12 hours per week (four hours per day), with the same condition that it must be paid at 200 percent, and overtime for minors is prohibited.

However, the deputy acknowledged that attention must be paid to the context faced by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), a situation they have already considered.

“There will be special support for MSMEs from the federal government, and fiscal strategies will also be sought to benefit them during this transition stage,” he said.

Business sector says consensus was lacking

The president of the Mexican Employers’ Confederation (Coparmex), Paul Valdiviezo, reiterated that they support changes that benefit workers, but said broader consensus should have been achieved before the approval of the reform.

The representative of the employer sector agreed that fundamental aspects should have been considered beforehand, particularly the scenario that MSMEs will face.

Coparmex bcs — Paul Valdiviezo commented that there is uncertainty regarding tax burdens and changes like this. / Photo: Courtesy / Coparmex

“I think the idea is good; we support it. Strengthening the social fabric and family harmony is positive. But consensus should have been reached to analyze the pros and cons, such as the fact that companies will have to hire more personnel, pay overtime, or make extraordinary hires.

“Obviously, they will also have to invest more in training, because some positions are very specialized, and those skills are built through experience and trust between employer and worker,” he explained.

He insisted that Coparmex maintains a favorable stance toward the proposal, recognizing that people’s well-being is a fundamental pillar for social development and for strengthening the family structure, which is essential to achieving a more equitable, stable, and secure society.

Nevertheless, he reiterated that the operational reality of companies should also have been taken into account.

“Especially small and medium-sized businesses, which represent the economic engine of our country. I believe reducing the workweek would necessarily imply hiring additional personnel or reorganizing shifts, which entails additional costs that could significantly affect operating margins,” he stressed.

Workers criticize rejection of two days of rest

Meanwhile, workers in Baja California Sur shared that the reform represents progress, but criticized the fact that the Chamber of Deputies rejected the proposal for two days of rest, which had been demanded during labor rights demonstrations across the country.

Alejandro Domínguez, a systems engineer, said the reform is questionable progress because the implementation proposal is not clearly defined.

transporte publico la paz bcs — Workers question the decisions of federal legislators regarding this reform. / Photo: Alberto Cota / El Sudcaliforniano

“In the short term, I don’t see an economically planned strategy, studied within the Mexican labor market, explaining how to integrate this work schedule without affecting the labor supply Mexico offers to the world.

“Mexico works a lot and is attractive to foreign capital and manufacturing for that reason,” he said.

“The current workday is inhumane and inefficient, and it can be greatly improved to approach what is humanly efficient. While it should be implemented, the government must better analyze how to apply it within our economic context,” he added.

Similarly, Tadeo Avilés, an accountant, said it is disappointing that the reform was approved without two days of rest.

“Why approve a law to reduce working hours so that the worker has a small change in their daily schedule if rest time is not increased?” he asked.

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Deputy Manuel Cota recalled that this is the first of several comprehensive reforms that will be presented in the Congress of the Union as part of a broader legislative process.

Lawmakers now have 90 days to harmonize the Federal Labor Law, incorporating the amendment to Article 123 and formalizing the secondary legislation.

Si quieres, también puedo hacer una versión optimizada para nota periodística en inglés (tipo AP/Reuters) con menos texto y más enfoque en los puntos clave.