Deputies endorse in commissions the reduction of the working day to 40 hours per week

The Constitutional Points Commission of the Chamber of Deputies endorsed reforms to the law to reduce working hoursas well as extending the number of days of compulsory rest.

The opinion, approved with 25 votes in favor and five abstentions from the PANamends section IV of section A of article 123 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, to establish that working hours per week be reduced from 48 to 40 from the moment the reform is approved.

The reform also proposes that there be two days of mandatory rest.

Currently the law establishes that for every six days of work, an employee may enjoy “at least” one day of rest.

Meanwhile, the proposal states that “for every five days of work, the operation must enjoy at least two days of rest.”

Said opinion is expected to be discussed in the Plenary of San Lázaro in the coming days. As it is a constitutional reform, it must obtain the support of two thirds of the deputies.

According to the project, Mexico is one of the countries where more hours are worked annually, which has led to the breakdown of the social fabric and more work stress.

“Reforming article 123, section A of the Political Constitution, in order to extend the working week to two days of rest is, without a doubt, a matter of social justice. The clamor of the working class, which for decades has demanded better conditions”, assured the deputy Pedro Vázquez González (PT).

During the meeting of the Constitutional Points Commissionwhen participating in the discussion of this opinion, the legislator described as essential to address the issue of the duration of rest periods, since it has direct consequences on the good physical and mental health of workers.

Vázquez González, agreed that Mexico is one of the countries where more hours are worked annually, which results in the breakdown of the social fabric, because workers have less and less opportunity to live with their children, much less have time to educate them or monitor its growth; In addition, there has been a significant increase in anticipated deaths due to stress, since one day of rest a week is not enough.

kg