Reduction of Working Hours and Mental Health in Mexico
Keywords:
Decent work, Working hours, Reconciliation of family life, Mental healthMain Article Content
The difference in the working day between Mexico and Germany is 779 hours per year. While Germans work an estimated 1,349 hours annually, Mexicans work 2,128 hours in the same period. Currently, a bill aims to reduce the workweek in Mexico from 48 to 40 hours and provide two days of rest for every five days worked. This measure is stated to be for the benefit of workers. However, there is a lack of detailed analysis on its effect on the mental well-being of the population through evidence-backed social policies and interventions. Despite being a topic of interest to all workers, academic information and analysis on the subject are scarce. Therefore, this paper analyzes some key elements to better understand this proposal and outlines some approaches that the academic and research community should engage in to contribute to the discussion.
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