Work hours in Mexico are structured, and the labor unions duly protect employees. Navigating work hours and regulations comes with intrigues, all discussed in this compilation. 

Top among the many benefits of setting up and expanding your company operations to Mexico is that you gain access to its large pool of literate, highly qualified, yet equally affordable labor. Many companies are also looking to latch on to this advantage to maintain their advantage over their competitors. 

Still, it is important to understand the regulations and how best to navigate work hours when hiring in Mexico. In this article, we discuss the work hours in Mexico and how best to define them. The different shifts and the maximum working hours allowed for them.  

Maximum Working Hours & Overtime Laws in Mexico

As it stands, Mexico allows employers some form of flexibility to adjust work shifts and weeks to ensure the maximum productivity of employees. Although there is recent talk about adjusting the Mexican labor laws, The country still offers one of the most productive labor markets in the South American Region. 

Standard Working Hours

According to the offshore group, Mexican labor laws have designed standard working hours for Mexican employees. The average Mexican’s workday is divided into 3 shifts at best. The day shift is conveniently divided into 8 hours that start at 6:00 am and end at 8:00 pm. 

The night shift is from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am, and they happen within a ten-hour window. The mixed shift is a 7.5-hour shift that covers a part of the day shift and also a part of the night shift. 

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Defining Maximum Working Hours

Mexican employees work 40 – 45 hours per week, reaching as high as 48 hours per week. Anything after this has to be effectively paid for by the employer. 

Overtime Compensation Rules

In the course of work, there might be occasions when the employee spends time; the labor laws of Mexico aptly cover this. In the case of overtime, the employee is entitled to 100% more than the regular wage for normal work duties. If the employee gets to spend up to 9 hours on overtime, the employee is entitled to 200% more than the regular wage. 

Legal Break Rights for Employees

Vacation days are approved for workers in Mexico, depending on the length of service to the company. In terms of breaks during continuous work. Every employee is entitled to at least one half-hour break; for every six days of work, the employee is granted a day off with full pay

Regulations on Sunday Work

Ideally, Mexican employees have their wages calculated on a seven-day week, and Sunday is the rest day. However, a 25% bonus is added to his daily wage if an employee has to work on a Sunday. 

Further reading: Employee Benefits in Mexico and Leave Policies in Mexico: Including Maternity Leave

The 48-Hour Work Week and Its Benefits in Mexico

Impact of Rising Minimum Wages

Last year, an increase in the Mexican minimum wage was announced, and it is expected that at least 6.4 million workers will benefit from this increase. This also includes remote employees and a host of formal employees, who comprise one-third of Mexico’s workforce. As a result, the government expects the consumption rate to increase in the country. 

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Comparing In-House and Outsourced Contact Centers

There are no hard words against utilizing in-house recruitment teams for onboarding new employees. However, it is best to utilize already well-grounded contact centers when expanding to another country or region. 

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Article author
Sergey Matikaynen
CTO
A top Software Development Voice on LinkedIn. Deeply passionate about the software industry. Dedicated to discovering innovative methods to connect exceptionally skilled professionals with the top tech companies worldwide, which heavily depend on advanced technology.

FAQ

According to Mexican labor laws, employees’ standard working hours range from 40 to 48 hours per week.

In the case of working overtime, the employee is entitled to a wage that is 100% higher than the wages of regular working hours. The extension of overtime hours by more than 9 hours a week means the employer gets to pay a wage equivalent to a 200% increase from the wage from regular working hours.

According to Labor laws and the CBAs, no Mexican employee should work more than 48 hours per week. In Mexico, employees can have up to six working days per week.

Yes, in Mexico, every employee is entitled to at least a half-hour break during a continuous work day. Also, for every 6 days of work, the employee gets a day off with full pay.

In Mexico, if an employee happens to work on Sunday, the employee is entitled to getting at least 25% of their base salary.