Understanding Your Lunch Break Rights: A Look at Mexican Labor Law

Mexico City, Mexico – A recent video by labor lawyer 'Abogado del Trabajo' has shed light on a common query among Mexican workers: the legality of employers requiring employees to clock in and out for their lunch breaks. Citing Article 64 of the Federal Labor Law (LFT), the lawyer clarified the stipulations surrounding meal periods. According to the legal expert, employers are mandated to grant employees a minimum of 30 minutes of rest for every eight hours of work. The critical distinction lies in whether the employee can freely leave the workplace during this break. "If you cannot leave the workplace to eat, the time you take for your meals counts as part of your workday," the lawyer stated. Conversely, he explained, if an employee is permitted to leave the premises, the duration of their break, whether one hour or two, does not count towards their official work hours. This legal interpretation means that employers are within their rights to implement tracking mechanisms, such as time clocks, to monitor how long employees are away for their meals, ensuring compliance with labor regulations. The information aims to inform workers about their rights and obligations concerning meal breaks under Mexican labor law.