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ALERT / DECEMBER 26, 2025
Mexico announces plans to reduce maximum working hours [UPDATED]
4 MIN READ
Mexico has announced plans to gradually reduce legal maximum working hours from 48 to 40 hours per week. The proposed change aims to improve employee wellbeing and align the country with international labor standards.
Update: On 3 December 2025, the government announced that it intends to reduce maximum working hours per week at a rate of two hours per year from January 2027 to January 2030. This article has been updated to reflect this recent announcement.
Background
The proposed gradual reduction in maximum working hours was announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare on 1 May 2025. The government subsequently convened public consultations in June and July 2025 to discuss the proposed change with representatives from labor unions, employers, academics, and civil organizations.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is expected to submit a draft bill during parliament’s current legislative session which commenced on 1 September 2025. If approved by parliament, it is expected to enter into force on 1 May 2026, with the first reduction in maximum working hours to take effect in January 2027.
Key details
Reduction in maximum working hours
The proposed 40-hour workweek is expected to be reached by January 2030. The government is currently proposing to reduce the maximum working hours per week at a rate of two hours every 1 January, starting in 2027, as follows:
Year | Maximum weekly working hours |
2027 | 46 |
2028 | 44 |
2029 | 42 |
2030 | 40 |
Changes in overtime rules
Currently, employees are permitted to work up to nine overtime hours per week (up to three hours per day and up to three times per week), which is paid at double wages. Any overtime exceeding nine hours per week is currently paid at triple wages.
Given the proposed reduction in weekly maximum working hours, the government is proposing the following changes:
Employees will be permitted to work up to 12 double-paid overtime hours per week on a voluntary basis (up to four hours per day and up to four days per week).
A new limit of four hours per week shall apply to any triple-paid overtime exceeding the above-mentioned voluntary overtime hours.
The combined total of regular and overtime hours may not exceed 12 hours per day.
The government is also proposing a new provision to prohibit overtime work for minors.
Employer action: PREPARE TO ACT
The proposed reduction in maximum working hours will have an impact on employers’ operational and manpower arrangements. However, for some sectors with collective agreements that already provide for maximum working hours of 40 hours, the impact of the proposed reduction will be limited.
It is essential that employers start identifying potential effects of the proposed reform on productivity and staffing, as well as solutions to mitigate such effects. In cases where it is necessary for workers to work beyond the maximum working hours, the additional costs associated with overtime pay, the maximum overtime allowed, and prohibitions on labor exploitation, such as forced labor, must be considered.
As the proposed reform is still undergoing the legislative process, it remains subject to potential changes and employers should monitor any major developments. If there are any major developments, the Lockton Global People Solutions Compliance Practice will update this article accordingly.
In collaboration with Jorge De Presno, David Puente Tostado and Luis Alvarez of Basham, Ringe y Correa S.C.
Further Information
