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Mexico’s 40-Hour Workweek Push Enters Congress With New Flexible Plan and Street Pressure

Lawmakers now focus on the how of implementation, shifting from approval to design.

Overview

  • The Chamber of Deputies received a new Baja California initiative that caps the week at 40 hours with flexible distribution and introduces a Saturday premium, bringing the total proposals to 13.
  • Commission chair Maiella Gómez says there is consensus to advance the reform, and legislator Patricia Mercado projects a vote during the September–December session.
  • The Labor Ministry’s roadmap proposes a phased cut from 46 hours in 2026 to 40 by 2030, though its formal project has yet to be delivered to the Chamber.
  • Activists from the Frente Nacional por las 40 Horas protested outside San Lázaro calling for immediate implementation and rejecting a gradual timeline.
  • Business groups and experts back a gradual, sector‑differentiated rollout with fiscal support for SMEs and warn that an abrupt cut could affect competitiveness and trade obligations.