MEXICO Trends and Developments Contributed by: Juan José Villar, Juan Carlos Villar and María Leticia Montero, Villar & Villar Abogados, S.C.
Villar & Villar Abogados, S.C. Torre Reforma Piso 14, Av. Paseo de la Reforma 483 Col. Cuauhtémoc C.P. 06500 Mexico City Mexico Tel: +52 55 8000 7400 Email: contacto@villarabogados.com.mx Web: www.villarabogados.com.mx
Mexico’s Labour Law Reforms: Working Hours, Gender Equality and Workplace Wellbeing Introduction Mexico’s labour market is in the middle of one of the most far-reaching transformations in its modern history and every company operating in the country needs to be ready. In just 12 months, three landmark legislative changes have redefined what it means to employ people in Mexico. These reforms are not happening in isolation: they are the result of a deliberate policy shift driven by trade commitments, international labour standards, and a domestic agenda focused on raising the floor for workers’ rights. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USM - CA, known in Mexico as the T-MEC), which entered into force in 2020, was the turning point. For the first time, a major trade agreement binding Mexico required not just declarations about labour rights, but concrete, verifiable reforms – backed by dispute- resolution mechanisms with real commercial conse - quences. Freedom of association, collective bargain - ing, the elimination of workplace discrimination, and occupational health standards all became conditions of trade access, not aspirations. The result has been a cascade of reforms to the Fed - eral Labour Law ( Ley Federal del Trabajo or LFT) and, in 2026, to the Mexican Constitution itself. For compa - nies operating in Mexico, the message is clear: adapt proactively, or face the cost of reactive, last-minute
compliance. These reforms do not just raise costs – they create real opportunities for businesses that invest in modern, efficient and equitable workplaces. Three reforms, in particular, demand immediate atten - tion. • The 40-hour workweek reform – a constitutional change reducing maximum working hours – Mexi - co’s biggest labour reform in decades. • Gender equality and workplace violence reform – new legal duties for employers on discrimination and workplace violence, effective January 2026. • The Ergonomic Seating Regulation ( Ley Silla ) – new rights for workers who stand during their shifts, in force since July 2025. The 40-hour workweek: Mexico’s biggest labour reform in decades What changed – and why it matters On 3 March 2026, Mexico made constitutional his - tory. A decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) amended Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution to establish a maximum workweek of 40 hours – down from the 48-hour limit that had been in place for nearly a century. This was followed on 1 May 2026 by the corresponding amendment to the Federal Labour Law, giving the reform full operational effect. To put this in perspective: Mexico had one of the longest statutory maximum workweeks among OECD nations. The reform aligns the country with ILO stand - ards and brings it closer to France (35 hours), Ger -
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