Mexico aims to achieve a 40-hour workweek by 2030, while Russia has had this limit for decades… and more days off.
The history of [time in the workplace] is written with clocks and calendars. In Mexico, the political and social debate focuses on [reducing the workweek]. In Russia, on the other hand, the Labor Code [long ago set a maximum workweek] and accompanies it with ample vacation periods.
Mexico: A Slow Transformation Project
Part of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS), which proposes a gradual reduction of working hours over five years. The scheme is clear: from 48 weekly hours at present, it will be reduced to 46 in 2026, then 44 in 2027, 42 in 2028, 41 in 2029, and finally 40 in 2030.
[Russia: A Consolidated Standard]
In Russia, the maximum 40-hour workweek has been established for years. The [regulation] is strict: any additional time is considered overtime and must be paid with a surcharge.
The legislation also includes adjustments according to specific circumstances: 16-year-olds work a maximum of 24 hours per week, those aged 16 to 18 do not exceed 35 hours, and the same applies to people with disabilities. After six months of continuous service, every worker is entitled to 28 days of paid vacation, extendable in extreme weather conditions or dangerous activities.
[Security and Compensation vs. Productivity]
In [Russia], the logic of reducing hours and additional vacations is linked to job security and compensation for adverse conditions. The goal is to protect the physical and mental health of those [employed].
Mexico, on the other hand, proposes a universal change: [to reduce the workweek]. The challenge will be to balance this aspiration with business sustainability, especially in industries where the transition may be more complex.
[Towards the Same Horizon]
illustrates two ways of conceiving work time. While the former looks to the future with a calendar of reforms, the latter has already consolidated that right and reinforced it with additional measures. The result is a cultural mirror: [two visions, one same horizon].
