While the 2019 labor reform marked a turning point in Mexico, this course will not stop and, as other countries have experienced as a trend, the reduction in the workweek is underway, and it is essential that it arises from an open dialog between workers and employers.
Plácido Morales, head of the Federal Labor Defense Attorney’s Office (Profedet) reaffirmed this during the opning of the annual event “2025, a year of risks and opportunities in labor matters”, where he emphasized that “There is no country in Europe where the workweek is longer than 40 hours and their productivity is not impacted”.
Reduction of the workweek under debate: Which are the questions to be addressed by the work groups?
He indicated that the opinion of both parties must be considered for such an important reform as the reduction of the workweek, and added that the government of the Republic, through the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) is ready to listen to both parties, “a measure is not taken without paying them due attention”, he maintained.
The Attorney General emphasized that with the new labor model Mexican workers have a quicker access to the justice system. Besides, union freedom is a historical demand, and now the workers base is able to elect its union leaders through direct, free and secret vote.
He added that the right to union freedom is subscribed in Convention No. 98 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which states the right to unionize and collective negotiation.
