MEXICO CITY – Mexican lawmakers have given their approval to legislation that will gradually shorten the country’s standard work week from 48 hours to 40 hours by the year 2030.
The Chamber of Deputies passed the measure on Tuesday evening with overwhelming support, as 469 representatives backed the proposal while no lawmakers cast opposing votes.
The legislation had already gained approval from Mexico’s Senate earlier this month, where President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party maintains strong control.
While opposition legislators initially raised objections to the proposal, they ultimately joined with the ruling party to support the reform following a marathon legislative session that stretched beyond 10 hours.
The measure represents the culmination of years of negotiations between government officials and private sector representatives. Sheinbaum formally presented the legislation in December, outlining a plan to reduce working hours by two hours annually until reaching the 40-hour target in 2030. Officials estimate the change will impact approximately 13.4 million Mexican workers.
Despite the legislative victory, labor organizations have criticized the reform as insufficient, arguing it falls short of addressing broader worker protection issues.
