In recent years, Mexico has undertaken a silent, applauded and criticized transformation by many, but deep in its work framework. What began with campaign proposals and promises to review labor rights, has become an active legislative agenda, in which all parliamentary groups have participated and that has put reforms on the table that seek to improve the quality of life of workers and harmonize working conditions with international standards.
However, these reforms and initiatives have also generated concerns in the business world, especially in sectors such as trade, manufacturing and services, which care about the increase in operational costs, the risk of greater informality and a possible loss of competitiveness.
Are we facing a structural transformation or a set of isolated measures? And more importantly: how viable is this new model for the Mexican economy?
Since 2019, a series of labor reforms have marked a change of focus on the relationship between employers and workers in Mexico. The so -called “chair law”, published in April 2024, forces employers to ensure that workers can sit during their day, unless there are operational reasons to remain standing. Although it seems a minor detail, the measure seeks to improve the physical conditions of those who work for hours, especially in sectors such as commerce and services.
A year earlier, the reform known as “decent holiday” entered into force, which doubled the legal minimum of paid vacation, going from six to twelve days from the first year. It was one of the most relevant modifications of recent years, and responded to an old debt to formal workers.
In parallel, the minimum wage has had sustained increases. According to Conasami, it went from 88.36 pesos a day in 2018 to 278.80 pesos in 2025. The increase, which exceeds 110% in real terms, has been one of the most visible flags of the current government.
Other proposals that could have a greater impact are still under discussion. One of them seeks to reduce the working day from 48 to 40 hours per week, with two mandatory rest days. Although it was already approved in commissions of the Chamber of Deputies, its vote is still pending in the Plenary. Another initiative proposes to establish the right to digital disconnection, to prevent workers from having to answer messages outside working hours. Inspired by European laws, this proposal aims to improve the balance between personal life and work, especially in home office or hybrid work schemes.
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This is how political and legislative changes rethink the labor reality of Mexico
From the worker’s perspective, these reforms represent an improvement in their living, rest and mental health conditions. More days of rest, salary increases above inflation, more human working conditions and, in some cases, a greater balance between work and personal life.
For the business sector, however, the panorama is more complex. Organizations such as Coparmex, Concamin, Canadevi or Antad, have expressed concerns about the effects of these measures, especially in terms of increasing labor costs, reduction in competitiveness, negative impact on micro and small businesses, and a higher incentive to operate in informality.
The substantive question is how to balance the worker’s protection with the need to maintain an environment conducive to economic investment and growth, and how to start these changes in a gradual way not to have unforeseen events or reduce negative impacts. The concern does not focus so much on the spirit of the reforms, but on its implementation: many companies, especially the smallest, fear not having the technical or financial capacity to adapt in the short term.
In the international environment many of these discussions have been – or even decades – being part of the labor agenda. In Spain, for example, the workday of 40 hours a week has been established for a long time, and since 2018 workers have the right to digital disconnection. France went further: in 2000 he reduced his legal day to 35 hours per week, although with some sectoral flexibilities that allow adaptations according to the industry.
In Latin America, advances have been more recent but equally significant. Chile approved in 2023 a law that progressively reduces the working day from 45 to 40 hours, with a scalked implementation calendar until 2028. In Colombia, a similar process began that seeks to take the day of 48 to 42 hours per week within four years, without reducing salary. In both cases, the reforms arose after a long debate between unions, employers and the State, and have been accompanied by awareness campaigns and business support programs.
Although economic, social and productive contexts are different, what these experiences show is that a transition to more balanced work models is possible, provided that it is constructed gradually, with long -term vision and with the proper accompaniment. Trying to replicate schemes without considering local peculiarities – as high informality or structural inequality – can end up weakening the viability of reforms instead of strengthening them.
The Mexican labor agenda seems to advance in the right direction in terms of rights, but faces the challenge of translating in tangible improvements for most workers. The reforms must be accompanied by public policies that foster productivity, reduce informality and offer adaptation tools to companies.
Mexico is in a redefinition process in the labor aspect, and the path you choose will have lasting effects on its economy and social cohesion. The outcome will depend on how capable we are to combine social justice with economic viability, without losing sight of the fact that a more dignified work environment is not only a right, but also an indispensable condition for development.
The author has a degree in Public Administration and Government from the Universidad Anáhuac Mexico, with an MBA from the Politècnica University of Catalonia. He has worked in the public, Fintech and Editorial sectors. It is currently part of the strategic team of Forbes Mexico, focused on business development, public matters and specialized content.
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