On March 3, 2026, the evening edition of the Official Gazette of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación) published the “Decree amending Sections IV and XI of Section A of Article 123 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, regarding the reduction of the working day” (the “Decree”), which entered into force on that same day.
The Decree is the result of the discussions, dialogues, and agreements that, over the course of two years, were carried out between the employer sector, the labor sector, and the federal government, resulting in the reduction of the working day.
The Decree establishes that (i) the weekly working day shall be 40 hours, (ii) for every six days of work, employees shall have one weekly day of rest; (iii) the number of overtime hours that employees may work is increased to 12 hours, which may be distributed as four hours per day for a maximum of four days per week; (iv) the first 12 overtime hours shall be paid with one hundred percent more than the salary established for ordinary hours, while those exceeding such amount shall be paid with two hundred percent more, and (v) overtime work for persons under 18 years of age is prohibited.
According to the transitory articles, the reduction of the working day will be gradual, therefore (a) in 2026, the working day remains at 48 hours per week; (b) in 2027, it will be 46 hours per week; (c) in 2028, 44 hours; (d) in 2029, 42 hours, and, finally, (e) in 2030, it will be 40 hours.
The reduction of the working day will not imply the reduction of salaries, wages, or benefits.
Finally, according to the Decree, the Congress of the Union must carry out the amendments to secondary legislation, including the Federal Labor Law, within a period of 90 days from the publication of the Decree.
The constitutional reform regarding the reduction of the working day constitutes one of the most significant changes that have taken place in labor law and directly affects employment relationships. Therefore, it is important that companies carry out the necessary actions to adjust their working schedules and labor documents.
The attorneys of Pérez Correa González Abogados will be at your disposal for any comment related to this matter.
If required any further information regarding the content of this Alert, please contact:
Luis González
Pérez Correa González
