Mexico's 40-hour workweek is now law — here's what it means for you
The reform is enacted and phases in 48 → 40 hours between 2027 and 2030. See the year it reaches you, why your pay can't be cut, and what your overtime is really worth — double for the first 9 weekly hours, triple beyond.
Your case
The phase-in calendar (it's the law)
What your overtime is worth
Email me the calendar + how my hours change each year
Worked examples
Day-shift factory worker in Querétaro, 8 overtime hours
Your legal maximum this year (2026): 48h/week
In 2026 the legal maximum is 48 hours. It reaches 40 hours in 2030 — a 8-hour drop, phased 2 hours a year.
⚠ The 40-hour week is NOT in effect in 2026 — the cap is still 48h. It steps down 2 hours a year from 2027 and reaches 40h in 2030.
✓ The reduction cannot lower your pay: the reform's transitorio states the shorter week must NOT reduce wages, salaries or benefits. Same pay, fewer hours.
ℹ️ That's MX$527 MORE than if your overtime were paid at the normal hourly rate — overtime is legally worth double or triple, not the same as a regular hour.
What your overtime is worth
- Your hourly wage: MX$66 (daily MX$527 ÷ 8h)
- First 8 OT hours — DOUBLE (200%): MX$1,053
- Total overtime pay this week: MX$1,053
Night-shift warehouse supervisor, 16 overtime hours weekly
Your legal maximum this year (2026): 48h/week
In 2026 the legal maximum is 48 hours. It reaches 40 hours in 2030 — a 8-hour drop, phased 2 hours a year.
⚠ The 40-hour week is NOT in effect in 2026 — the cap is still 48h. It steps down 2 hours a year from 2027 and reaches 40h in 2030.
✓ The reduction cannot lower your pay: the reform's transitorio states the shorter week must NOT reduce wages, salaries or benefits. Same pay, fewer hours.
ℹ️ That's MX$2,453 MORE than if your overtime were paid at the normal hourly rate — overtime is legally worth double or triple, not the same as a regular hour.
What your overtime is worth
- Your hourly wage: MX$107 (daily MX$747 ÷ 7h)
- First 9 OT hours — DOUBLE (200%): MX$1,920
- Next 7 OT hours — TRIPLE (300%): MX$2,240
- Total overtime pay this week: MX$4,160
Mixed-shift store clerk, exactly 9 overtime hours
Your legal maximum this year (2026): 48h/week
In 2026 the legal maximum is 48 hours. It reaches 40 hours in 2030 — a 8-hour drop, phased 2 hours a year.
⚠ The 40-hour week is NOT in effect in 2026 — the cap is still 48h. It steps down 2 hours a year from 2027 and reaches 40h in 2030.
✓ The reduction cannot lower your pay: the reform's transitorio states the shorter week must NOT reduce wages, salaries or benefits. Same pay, fewer hours.
ℹ️ That's MX$379 MORE than if your overtime were paid at the normal hourly rate — overtime is legally worth double or triple, not the same as a regular hour.
What your overtime is worth
- Your hourly wage: MX$42 (daily MX$316 ÷ 7.5h)
- First 9 OT hours — DOUBLE (200%): MX$758
- Total overtime pay this week: MX$758
Examples are recomputed whenever the underlying rates or data change; the date above is the last recompute.
Methodology & data sources
Mexico's workweek reform is enacted at the constitutional level: the reform to Article 123, published in the DOF in March 2026, sets the cut from a 48- to a 40-hour maximum workweek. It phases in gradually — 2 hours per year, starting January 1, 2027: 48h (2026) → 46 (2027) → 44 (2028) → 42 (2029) → 40 (2030) — with the secondary Ley Federal del Trabajo changes being harmonized to implement it. The reform's transitorio protects pay: the shorter week cannot reduce wages, salaries or benefits. Daily maximums (LFT Art. 61) are 8h day / 7h night / 7.5h mixed, with one paid rest day per six worked (Art. 69). Overtime under the current LFT (Arts. 66–68): the first 9 hours per week are paid double (200%), and hours beyond 9 per week are paid triple (300%); we value overtime on your hourly wage (monthly salary ÷ 30 ÷ daily hours). The 2026 legal maximum is still 48h — the first reduction to 46h takes effect January 1, 2027. Our Freshness Keeper re-verifies the calendar, the overtime wording, and the LFT implementation status against the DOF.
Sources: DOF — constitutional reform Art. 123 (Mar 2026) · LFT Arts. 58–68 (overtime) · Official phase-in calendar
Frequently asked questions
Is the 40-hour week already in effect in 2026?
No — the cap is still 48h in 2026. It steps down 2 hours a year from 2027 and reaches 40h in 2030.
Can my salary be cut when hours drop?
No. The reform's transitorio protects your pay — same wages and benefits, fewer hours.
How is overtime paid?
The first 9 overtime hours a week are double (200%); hours beyond 9 a week are triple (300%) — LFT Arts. 66–68.
Does this apply to everyone in Mexico?
The maximum-workweek calendar is national. Your specific schedule and any collective agreement can differ — confirm with PROFEDET.