MEXICO CITY, Feb 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Mexican lawmakers on Wednesday approved a constitutional reform lowering the working week from 48 hours to 40 by 2030, although the opposition criticized it for giving workers only one day of rest for every six worked.

The working day will first be reduced in 2027, when it will be brought down to 46 hours, and will be reduced by two hours each year until coming to 40 in 2030.

Latin America's second-biggest economy joins a handful of countries in the region that have introduced 40-hour working weeks, including Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Despite the reform passing by 469 votes in favor to zero against, opposition lawmakers still assailed the reform for not guaranteeing two days of rest for every five days worked.

Patricia Mercado, from the center-left Citizen's Movement, said Mexico had "one of the highest levels of work-related stress on a global level, 75 percent of the workforce has to deal with this, so rest is key for a healthy and well-balanced life."

Following an endorsement by the Senate two weeks ago, the project now requires a favorable vote in at least 17 out of 32 state legislatures to be officially turned into a law.

"Under no circumstances should the reduction of the workday imply the lowering of pay-rates or salaries," the Congressional Chamber of Deputies said in a communique.