Working Time Rules: Mexico
Mexico: standard working hours, overtime, rest, annual leave, and record-keeping rules - a practical overview, not legal advice.
This is a general overview, not legal advice. Limits, reference periods, exceptions, and record-keeping duties vary by sector and contract and change over time. Confirm the current rules with the official source and a qualified adviser.
Working week used in calculations48 hours per week8 hours a day over 6 days
Minimum annual leave12+ daysArticle 76: 12 days after the first year, rising by two per year to 20 in year five, then by two for each additional five years of service. Twenty days is not a lifetime ceiling.Source
Statutory working time
The 2026 reform phases the ordinary weekly limit from 48 hours in 2026 to 46 in 2027 and 40 in 2030. Article 61 retains daily limits for daytime, nighttime and mixed work. Calendar capacity does not enforce those limits.
Overtime
The standard day shift is 8 hours. Overtime is paid at double the hourly rate for the first nine hours in a week and triple beyond that.
Rest periods
At least one full rest day per week and a break during the working day.
Record-keeping
Employers keep records of hours worked and wages.
What to check before you rely on this
- The current statutory limits, reference periods, and any opt-outs.
- Sector or collective-agreement rules that may override the defaults.
- How overtime is authorised, recorded, and compensated.
- What working-time records you must keep and for how long.