Mexican Senate Committees Approve Gradual 40 Hour Work Week

ByAndrea Becerril and Georgina Saldierna

This article by Andrea Becerril and Georgina Saldierna originally appeared in the February 10, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. The Senate unanimously approved in committee the constitutional reform that gradually establishes a 40-hour workweek. The bill was immediately sent to the Senate leadership, where it received its first reading, and will be voted on by the full Senate in tomorrow’s session.

The senators from the PRI, PAN, and MC parties, who had previously opposed the initiative, agreed yesterday during the meeting of the Constitutional Points, Legislative Studies, and Labor and Social Welfare committees that the presidential initiative should be passed in its entirety, except for a modification regarding inclusive language. However, they insisted that once the reform to the Constitution is enacted, the necessary changes to the Federal Labor Law should be implemented immediately.

The PAN coordinator, Ricardo Anaya, the PRI members Claudia Anaya and Carolina Viggiano, as well as Alejandra Barrales, from MC, insisted that they cannot wait the 90 days that the reform gives to Congress to adapt the LFT, since as the initiative of President Claudia Sheinbaum is written, there may be negative effects for workers, especially due to the new overtime regime.

Senator Anaya proposed adding to that reform to Article 123 another transitional provision that also specifies a gradual regime in the case of overtime, because, since the number of overtime hours that the worker can work will increase from nine to twelve, their tax regime will be modified.

Currently, the PRI senator pointed out, the nine-hour workday is exempt from taxes for minimum wage workers, but when it is raised to twelve, there will be an increase in Income Tax (ISR) and it will also affect profit sharing.

Speaking on behalf of the PT, Senator Gonzalo Yañez expressed a similar concern. He stated that all arguments in favor of the reform are undermined by the issue of overtime pay. He also complained that initiatives presented by legislators from his party since 2023 had not been taken into account. Nevertheless, he said, they would vote in favor.

The PAN coordinator, Ricardo Anaya, stated that it should have been explicitly established that there would be two days off starting with the 40-hour workweek, but since it involves a reduction in working hours, his parliamentary group would approve it. He also insisted that the secondary legislation be approved immediately and not wait the 90 days stipulated by the reform.

His fellow party member, Marco Cortés, justified his vote in favor, saying, “There was dialogue with all sectors to reach a consensus.” He added that this would increase rest time and allow “families to live better.”

Senator Barrales proposed from the beginning of the meeting, chaired by the president of the Constitutional Points Commission, Oscar Cantón Zetina, that a statement from members of independent unions be read, but the majority bloc decided that it should be at the end.

Speaking on behalf of Morena, Senator Simey Olvera emphasized that this is a historic reform, since 109 years after the 48-hour week was established in the Constitution, it will be reduced to 40 hours.

The only change made to the presidential initiative, proposed by the president of the Commission for Gender Equality, Malú Micher, was to change the word “minors” to “minor persons”, within the framework of inclusive language that is present throughout the initiative.

The final vote was 48 in favor and zero against.