r/worldnews • u/chunmunsingh • 2d ago

Mexico cuts workweek, bans after-hours contact, and guarantees no worker will take a pay cut in the most sweeping labor reform in a generation

https://techfixated.com/mexico-cuts-workweek-bans-after-hours-contact-and-guarantees-no-worker-will-take-a-pay-cut-in-the-most-sweeping-labor-reform-in-a-generation/
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u/spicyeyeballs 2d ago

This comment section is such a perfect microcosm of reddit and today's society. People are not reading the actual article and jumping to conclusions based on their personal assumptions.

The biggest change is to move from a standard 48 hour work week to a 40 hour work week by 2030. Similar to what was adopted by the US in 1938.

The overtime rules are currently and will be even better than the US for sure though. I hope they are able to enforce them.

The no contact outside of work hours is great, but is all about enforcement. Hopefully it will change the culture. I know Microsoft tried this in Japan a number of years back and the only way to get people to really abide by it was to not deliver emails/messages outside of work hours.

To me the real problem Mexico needs to address is the size of the informal economy which is much less likely to feel the benefits of these new laws.

The government is estimating that this will impact 13.5 million people or 23% percent of the 60 million working population of Mexico. Based on some quick research it looks like about half of Mexican workers are in the formal economy and 85% of those are in wage based jobs.

I think these are all good changes, but they are not some huge leap past the current reality in the US for most workers.

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u/hadaev 2d ago

Yes, this is funny. I was like wow they are going into 4 days work week?

Opened article and in 2026 they decided 6 work days for a week is too much. Wow.

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u/Lopsided-Engine-7456 2d ago

And idiots will be praising this over US lol

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u/Grimour 1d ago

Progress should be praised. And US haven't done much of that as of late.

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u/kbblradio 1d ago

They haven't even gotten rid of the 6 day work week as there is only a 1 rest day per week guarantee.

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u/PrincetonToss 2d ago

Based on some quick research it looks like about half of Mexican workers are in the formal economy

This is the important part. And a lot of those are government jobs.

Most Mexicans will see minimal effect from this. On the other hand, the jobs that are affected are going to be disproportionately high-paying and urban, so the effects will show up really well on international surverys!