Government Moves to Reignite Workweek Reduction Debate

Senator Geovanna Bañuelos, President of the Labor and Social Security Commission, emphasized that reducing working hours is the Mexican government's top priority, with the discussion set to resume in the upcoming legislative session. Movimiento Ciudadano (MC), MORENA, and the Labor Party (PT) are leading efforts to reignite the debate on this issue.

Bañuelos highlighted the favorable climate for reigniting dialogue on reducing working hours. "This is a particularly compelling and controversial issue, but one that offers immense benefit. Our president has already indicated that this will be a key topic for discussion," Bañuelos told El Economista.

While a specific proposal from President Claudia Sheinbaum has not yet been presented, Bañuelos assured that her Commission will remain open to all perspectives to ensure a gradual, sector-specific implementation. "Any changes related to workers' rights in this country go far beyond securing a majority in the Commission. It requires a comprehensive approach. Many critical issues will be addressed, and we will not overlook any of them," Bañuelos emphasized.

The past two legislatures approved approximately 15 labor reforms, marking the most significant overhaul of the Federal Labor Law (LFT) in the last 30 years. According to the PT legislator, this momentum will continue. "Major strides have been made, but much work remains for this legislature, and there will always be ongoing efforts to protect workers' rights globally."

This new initiative represents the second recent attempt to reduce the workweek in Mexico. The previous legislature also launched a discussion on the issue, with the Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approving a proposal to amend the Constitution and recognize two days off for every five days worked, effectively reducing the workweek from 48 to 40 hours. 

Open parliamentary forums held by the Lower House at that time allowed for the expression of various views, helping to build consensus on the importance of continuing the analysis of the issue. However, no clear solution was reached. The business sector has called for a gradual and flexible approach, advocating for a phased reduction tailored to the specific realities of each industry, similar to the steps taken by Chile and Colombia.

Unlike the previous legislature's proposal, new efforts include public sector workers in the workweek reduction proposal and advocate for a gradual transition. Key aspects include implementation within 365 calendar days, with an additional six months for Congress to align secondary legislation. 

The plan outlines a phased approach based on company size: three and a half years for microbusinesses, two years for small enterprises, one and a half years for medium-sized businesses, and six months for large companies. Additionally, a one-year pilot program led by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) and the Ministry of Economy (SE) will be conducted to collect data and evaluate productivity. Following this, the labor authority will have 180 days to organize working groups and define a gradual transition. The proposal also explicitly prohibits any reduction in salaries corresponding to the decrease in working hours.