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Latin America · Hiring guide · 2026
Hiring in Mexico: labour law and payroll
This page is the labour-law and payroll stack for multinational employers hiring in Mexico. It is not a salary survey.
In-country employment is how you run this stack without a Mexican company — within specialised-services rules, not as a way around the outsourcing reform.
To hire without incorporating first, use in-country employment in Mexico.
Contracts
Contracts and probation
Probation
Probation is generally up to 30 days, or up to 180 days for management and specialised technical roles, and only if written into the contract from day one.
Outsourcing reform
You cannot subcontract core activities as a disguised payroll. Specialised services have to be genuine and registered.
Hours
Working time and overtime
Hours
Day shift generally 8 hours (48-hour week), night 7 hours, mixed 7.5. Weekly rest is statutory.
Overtime
The first nine overtime hours in a week are generally at 200%; excess hours at 300%. Overtime is capped.
Vacation and premium
Paid vacation starts at 12 days after year one and steps up. Prima vacacional is at least 25% of vacation pay.
Wage floor
Minimum wage, 2026
Minimum wages are daily and come in two geographic zones. Aguinaldo and IMSS are statutory. These are not market salaries.
| Rule | Figure |
|---|---|
| General minimum wage 2026 | MXN 315.04 / day from 1 January 2026 |
| Northern Border Free Zone | MXN 440.87 / day |
| Aguinaldo | At least 15 days' salary by 20 December (Art. 87 LFT) |
| IMSS + INFONAVIT + retirement | Employer branches on integrated salary (SBC), plus 5% INFONAVIT and 2% retirement |
IMSS is calculated on salario diario integrado (daily wage plus statutory benefits), not on a naked daily rate. PTU (10% of taxable profits) is a separate May cash line when the employer is profitable.
Exit
Terminating and offboarding
Dismissal without cause
Generally three months' salary plus 20 days per year of service, and a seniority premium in many cases. Mexico is not at-will.
Justified cause
The LFT lists causes. They have to be documented and notified correctly. A missing notice letter turns a cause case into a severance case.
Aguinaldo and vacation on exit
Prorated Aguinaldo and unused vacation plus premium are due on any termination.
Questions
FAQ
- Is Aguinaldo mandatory?
- Yes. At least 15 days' salary by 20 December, prorated for incomplete years (Article 87 LFT).
- What is the 2026 minimum wage?
- MXN 315.04 per day in the general zone and MXN 440.87 per day in the Northern Border Free Zone, from 1 January 2026.
- Can we dismiss without cause?
- You can end the contract, but you pay constitutional severance. Budget it before you hire.
- How long is probation?
- Up to 30 days, or up to 180 days for management and specialised technical roles, only if it is in the contract from day one.
Other markets
Other hiring guide pages
Reviewed 11 September 2026
This is a hiring briefing for multinational employers, not legal advice. Statutory rates move by city, province, and sector. Confirm the place of work before you issue an offer.
Sources
- Ley Federal del Trabajo — Aguinaldo, hours, termination, probation
- CONASAMI — 2026 minimum wages
- Ley del Seguro Social / INFONAVIT
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