Mexico's Legislative Activity Surges with Open Forums on Working Hours Bill

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) actively engages in forums across six states from June 19 to July 7, focusing on reducing the work week from 48 to 40 hours. This initiative comes amid a surge in legislative activities under President Claudia Sheinbaum.  

Forum details: Held in six states: Mexico City, Nuevo León, Jalisco, Baja California, Querétaro, and Quintana Roo. Participants include union leaders, business executives, government officials, and international organizations. Topics include productivity, labor costs, and workplace well-being. Sessions run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and are open to the public.  

Key participants: Notable attendees include Clara Brugada, CTM leader Carlos Aceves del Olmo, Business Coordinating Council president Francisco Cervantes, Association’s long-term friend, ILO president Pedro Américo Furtado, and CANACO-CDMX president Vicente Gutierrez. 

Next steps: Insights from these forums will guide a draft law to be presented to Congress by September 1. the forum discussion will focus on a gradual implementation aligning with practices in countries like Chile and Colombia, and the pay level with a shorter workweek. HR Policy Global will host a webinar to discuss the results in September. 

Bigger picture: Besides the forums, companies in Mexico are navigating a rapidly shifting legislative landscape as President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has seen a significant increase in legislative activity, including seven labor law reforms in just seven months.