On the morning of this Wednesday, December 3, news was announced in Mexico: The working day will be reduced from the 48 hours currently worked to 40, but it will be implemented gradually. So When will an employee finally work the equivalent of five days?
Marath Baruch Bolaños López, Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare of Mexico, announced at President Sheinbaum’s morning conference that The implementation of the 40-hour work week will be gradual,just as the President had already announced long ago.
For now, It will be established in the Constitution that the working day will be 40 hours in Mexico, it does not represent the possibility of reducing wages or benefits for workers. There will be a reduction of two hours per year from the ordinary working day, which will become effective on January 1 of each year in accordance with the following::
| Year | working day |
| 2026 | Entry into force and transition period |
| 2027 | 46 |
| 2028 | 44 |
| 2029 | 42 |
| 2030 | 40 |
According to the scheme, The legislation will come into force in 2026 and will be considered a transition year for companies to make the necessary adjustments. Starting in 2027, the reduction will be to 46 hours and thus, reduce two hours a day, until reaching 40 hours in 2030..
Sheinbaum speaks out
The President Sheinbaum mentioned that next year will help companies make the necessary adjustments to their schemes and reduce the working day by two hours, each year, starting in 2027 and until 2030..
The head of the Executive Branch pointed out that it has been demonstrated throughout the world that reducing the working day has a positive impact on the well-being of workers. Furthermore, he added, that It does not imply higher costs for entrepreneurs, but rather greater productivity.
Sheinbaum also stressed that the reduction in the working day to 40 hours has been achieved through consensus between the parties..
* * * Stay up to date with the news, join our WhatsApp channel * * *
OA