Employment Practice Group I December 11th, 2025

Reduction of Working Hours

On December 3, 2025, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that she will submit to the Mexican Senate a legislative initiative aimed at implementing, beginning in 2027, a gradual reduction of the workweek until reaching 40 hours per week by 2030.

The initiative will be sent to the Federal Congress for discussion. If approved, it would take effect on May 1, 2026, while the first two-hour weekly reduction would apply starting January 1, 2027.

The proposal establishes a progressive reduction of the workweek as follows:

• 2026: Start of the transition period
• 2027: 46 hours per week
• 2028: 44 hours per week
• 2029: 42 hours per week
• 2030: 40 hours per week

The President emphasized that this reduction will not involve any decrease in wages or benefits. Additionally, for the first time, overtime will be prohibited for minors, a measure that will also take effect on May 1, 2026.

As part of the reinforcement of employment obligations, the initiative contemplates the creation of an electronic time-tracking system, to be issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, with the purpose of ensuring compliance with both regular and overtime hours.

We encourage all companies to anticipate these adjustments, which will impact payroll budgets, financial planning and production forecasts, for the coming years.