Overview
- This week (July 29–30) multiple national outlets reiterated that Article 63 of the Ley Federal del Trabajo guarantees at least a 30-minute rest period during a continuous workday.
- Article 64 sets the pay rule: the 30-minute break is unpaid when the worker can leave and is not at the employer’s disposal, and it must be paid when the worker must stay at the workplace or answer calls and tasks.
- Contracts, collective agreements, and internal rules cannot reduce or eliminate the 30-minute minimum because the law sets an irrenunciable federal floor for all formal jobs in Mexico.
- Workers who believe the rule is being violated should gather written proof such as messages or schedules and seek free advice or mediation from the Procuraduría Federal de la Defensa del Trabajo (Profedet).
- Denial of the break can trigger labor inspections and fines and also worsens fatigue, concentration, accident risk, and long-term health, which can in turn harm company productivity.