Glossary · 3 min read
Mandatory rest days in Mexico
Short answer
They are the holidays set by article 74 of the Federal Labor Law. If they are worked, the day's salary is paid plus a double salary.
- January 1
- First Monday of February, in place of February 5
- Third Monday of March, in place of March 21
- May 1
- September 16
- Third Monday of November, in place of November 20
- October 1 every six years, for the transfer of the federal Executive Branch
- December 25
- Election day, when set by electoral laws
Article 74 of the LFT.
How a worked holiday is paid
The normal salary for the day plus double: three times the daily salary.
How to do the math by hand
With $400 per day, for working on your rest day you receive the $400 for the day plus $800 for the service: $1,200 in total. If it is also a Sunday, $100 of Sunday premium is added.
Why everything starts with the working-time record
Almost every labor calculation starts from the same data point: how many hours and which days each person worked. If that data is uncertain, so is everything else.
- Overtime: it is paid according to the hours of each week.
- Sunday premium and rest days worked: they depend on which days were worked.
- Aguinaldo and profit sharing: they use the days worked in the year.
- Labor lawsuits: the company must prove the working time.
Since 2026, the Federal Labor Law requires that record to be electronic, per person, with start and end time.
Common mistakes
- Using the UMA or minimum wage value from a previous year.
- Confusing daily salary, integrated salary and contribution base salary.
- Calculating benefits without knowing the days actually worked.
- Taking the legal minimums as if they were the maximum.
- Not keeping the backup of the calculation.
What to do now
- Confirm the current value for the year.
- Have each person's daily salary at hand.
- Check the days and hours worked in your record.
- Do the math and keep it.
- Validate it with your accountant.
Related terms
Night shift: schedule and maximum length. The night shift is the one worked between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
What is NOM-037 on telework. NOM-037 sets the safety and health conditions for telework.
What is the integrated daily salary (SDI). The integrated daily salary adds to the daily-rate salary the benefits the person receives, such as aguinaldo and vacation premium.
Frequently asked questions
Are Holy Thursday and Good Friday mandatory?
They are not on the list in the law.
Are the amounts gross or net?
Gross. They do not account for taxes or social security contributions.
Can I use this for my payroll?
It works as a reference. Your accountant should do or validate the payroll calculation.
Where does the data come from?
From the Federal Labor Law and from the official values published by INEGI and the National Minimum Wage Commission.
Do these values change every year?
Yes. The UMA is updated every February 1 and the minimum wage every January 1. Always confirm the current value.
Legal basis and sources
- Rest days and Sunday premium: articles 69 to 75 of the LFT.
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week. Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026.
- Federal Labor Law, current text. Chamber of Deputies.
How we write this content. The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant.