The initiative that proposes reducing the working day from 48 to 40 hours per week in Mexico It entered debate last April, and it is only in this month of October that it has been put on the table as one of the main projects that must be debated in open parliament as soon as possible. This constitutional labor reform has generated great concern among workers, but much more so among employers, whom it would affect directly and on a larger scale. The Mexican people are waiting for a final decision on the issue from the Federal Government and in this note that we have prepared in Depor we tell you all the details about this important bill that could become a reality soon.
What is missing for the reduction of working hours in Mexico to become a reality?
So far, this project has been supported by committees, but it still awaits the most critical approval, which must come from the full Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. To come into effect, the reform needs the support of two-thirds of legislators or a public discussion. If modifications are made, they must be voted on and approved. If it is ratified without alterations by both chambers, it will be sent to the Executive branch and will be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation for its implementation.
How is the working day currently planned in Mexico?
In section A of article 123 of the Political Constitution of Mexico, mandatory compliance with two points is mentioned (in the Roman numerals I and IV):
- The maximum duration of the day will be eight hours.
- For every six days of work, the operator must enjoy at least one day of rest.
Current working hours of employees in Mexico
The Federal Labor Law establishes a working day in Mexico of 48 hours per week spread over six days with one day of rest. “For every six days of work, the operator must enjoy at least one day of rest,” establishes the Constitution. The three work shifts of the companies are:
- Daytime: Hours from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a total day of eight hours.
- Night shift: Hours from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with a maximum work day of seven hours.
- Mixed day: It contemplates an approximate day of seven and a half hours.
What does the proposal to reduce the working day in Mexico consist of?
The modification of the LFederal Labor Law intends to reform section A of article 123 of the Political Constitution of Mexico regarding days of rest and reduction of working hours. In that sense, it is proposed:
- Reduce weekly work hours from 48 to 40.
- Grant two days of rest for every five days worked.
When would the 40-hour work week come into force in Mexico?
There is still no exact date for the 40-hour work week to come into effect in Mexico, because it must first be approved by the respective legislative chambers and then sent to the Executive Branch, which will determine its publication in the Journal. Official of the Federation, and it will be on that date that it will only come into force.
Benefits and disadvantages of the 40-hour work week
The Chilean Felipe Gajardo, bilingual commercial engineer and Master in Finance from the Adolfo Ibañez University, in an article he shared on LinkedIn about the case of Chile – where in April of this year the reduce the working day from 45 to 40 hours weekly after six years of debate – left a list with the advantages and disadvantages of implementing this initiative and we detail them below.
Benefits:
- Improved quality of life: With the reduction of the working day, workers have more time to dedicate to their family, their leisure and their personal development, which translates into an improvement in their quality of life. Additionally, reducing work hours can help reduce stress and fatigue, which in turn can have a positive impact on workers’ mental and physical health.
- Higher productivity: Contrary to what one might think, reducing the working day does not necessarily reduce the productivity of workers. In fact, many studies have shown that workers who work fewer hours are more productive because they are more rested and motivated.
- Short-term job creation: If the working day is reduced, more workers will be needed to cover the same working hours, which could have a positive effect on the labor market in the short term.
- Benefits for the economy: If workers have more time to consume, this could have a positive effect on the economy, as domestic demand would be stimulated. In addition, reducing the working day could help reduce the gender gap, since women tend to work fewer hours than men.
- Option to have a second part-time job: With reduced work hours, workers have more flexibility to find and obtain a second part-time job, which could increase their income and improve their quality of life.
Disadvantages:
- Costs for companies: The reduction in working hours implies an increase in labor costs for companies, since they will have to pay more overtime or hire more workers to cover the same work hours. This could have a negative effect on the profitability of companies and ultimately the economy as a whole. Additionally, cost increases could decrease foreign investment incentives.
- Difficulties for some sectors: In some sectors, such as health or education, the reduction of working hours could have difficulties to be implemented, since these sectors need a minimum number of hours to function properly.
- Long-term effect on wages: Although reducing the working day may be beneficial for workers in the short term, in the long term salaries should tend to fall, adapting to the new working day, which could have a negative effect on their quality of life.
Countries with a 40-hour work week
Despite the controversy, there are several countries that have adopted a work week of around 40 hours and we detail them below:
- USA.
- Canada.
- United Kingdom.
- Australia.
- New Zealand.
- Germany.
- France.
- Spain.
- Ecuador.
- Italy.
- Japan.
- South Korea.
- Brazil.
- Mexico.
- Argentina
- Chili.