The private sector and the government must work jointly to guarantee that the reduction of the workweek benefits all sectors, specialists say / Photograph: Rogelio Morales Ponce / Cuartoscuro.com
The Department of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) could have a preliminary document including significant progress made on the proposal for the 40-hour workweek by this coming July 30.
The Federal Government will present its formal proposal for the reform on September 1; the approval process of this proposal is expected to considered as prioritary.
In the opinion of Óscar de la Vega Castillo, associate at the De la Vega y Martínez Rojas Labor Law Firm, key proposals and next stages are emerging.
“It is important to keep track of the entire process being followed by the labor authorities, particularly because it must include aspects that benefit all sectors, different sized enterprises and, of course, the workers”, he explained.
There are at least four aspects that must be included in the reform proposal for the implementation of the 40-hour workweek in Mexico, he said:
-Gradual implementation;
-Flexibility in time scheduling
-Sectorization of the reform
-Tax incentives for overtime.
He considered the conclusion of the six dialogue forums held in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Querétaro, and Cancún to be successful.
He pointed out that the STPS is getting prepared to present a consolidated proposal that reflects the needs and concerns of both workers and employers, centering on the four aspects mentioned above.
“Dialogue between sectors is crucial for reaching agreements that benefit the workers but also allow companies to maintain productivity”, he said.
Among the key proposals being defined in regard to a gradual implementation, the progressive application of the reduction of the workweek hours is being considered.
While the objective of 40 hours per week will be reached by 2030 at the latest, a first reduction is projected to take place in 2026, possibly to 46 hours, and a reduction will be made every two years until the final goal is reached.
In regard to flexibility in relation to time scheduling, he said that the implementation of models such as “time-for-time” or monthly rather than weekly working hours is being analyzed, thus offering a greater adaptability to the specificities of each sector or industry.
In regard to the sectorization of the workweek, he stated that differentiated schemes will be sought, taking into account the specificities of industry in comparison with office work.
On the topic of tax incentives for overtime, he said that the possibility of their being sought is being considered in order to make the payment of overtime more beneficial to the workers when they surpass the current limits of worked hours.
In regard to productivity, it is necessary to train personnel and, therefore, companies must implement these plans in order to ensure the availability of a qualified workforce that can fill shifts when substitutions are required and maintain efficiency in the new working hours.
He emphasized the importance of discarding the belief that more hours worked equals greater productivity.
