Glossary · 2 min read
Day shift: hours and maximum length
Short answer
The day shift is the one worked between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Its maximum length is 8 hours per day.
| Shift | Schedule | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Day | Between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm | 8 hours |
| Night | Between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am | 7 hours |
| Mixed | Both day and night, with less than 3 and a half night hours | 7 and a half hours |
Articles 60 and 61 of the LFT.
In the week
With the reform, the weekly maximum goes down from 48 to 40 hours between 2027 and 2030. The daily maximum does not change.
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
What is a finiquito (final settlement). The finiquito is the payment of what the company owes a person when the employment relationship ends, regardless of the cause.
Aguinaldo: how much it is and how it is calculated. The aguinaldo (year-end bonus) is an annual payment of at least 15 days of salary, which must be paid before December 20.
What is PROFEDET. PROFEDET is the Federal Labor Defense Attorney's Office (Procuraduría Federal de la Defensa del Trabajo).
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I finish at 9:00 p.m.?
If less than three and a half hours fall after 8:00 p.m., the shift is mixed.
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.
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.
Legal basis and sources
- Working hours: articles 58 to 64 of the LFT and second transitory provision of the decree.
- 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.