For business owners · 3 min read
Temporary staff: how to record their working time
Short answer
Temporary staff have the same workday limits and the same right to overtime. Their record is kept the same way, even if they work a single day.
What tends to fail
That no one registers them "because they are only here today."
How to solve it
Quick setup from a phone or a shared tablet.
The reform in one minute
The reform has two parts. On March 3, 2026, article 123 of the Constitution was amended to set the 40-hour workweek. On May 1, 2026, the Federal Labor Law was amended, which is where the detail is.
- The maximum working week drops from 48 to 40 hours, two hours per year, between 2027 and 2030.
- Overtime has a weekly cap: it is paid at double time up to the cap and at triple time for up to 4 more hours.
- Each company must electronically record the start and end time of each person's workday.
- Not keeping that record is fined 250 to 5,000 UMA.
- Salary and benefits cannot go down because of the reduction in hours.
What remains pending are the STPS general rules, which will define who the record applies to and what exceptions there will be. They take effect on January 1, 2027.
| Year | Maximum working hours | Double-time overtime | Triple-time overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 48 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2027 | 46 h | 9 h | 4 h |
| 2028 | 44 h | 10 h | 4 h |
| 2029 | 42 h | 11 h | 4 h |
| 2030 | 40 h | 12 h | 4 h |
Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 1, 2026, second and fourth transitory provisions, and article 68 of the LFT. Each change applies from January 1.
Common mistakes
- Leaving it for December.
- Choosing only by price, without checking whether the team will use it.
- Thinking the notebook is still enough.
- Not agreeing on the record in writing.
- Paying differently from what the record shows.
What to do now
- Ask your accountant and your lawyer what applies to you.
- Calculate how many hours you need to reorganize.
- Decide how you will record working time.
- Start before January.
- Review the record every day during the first month.
Related terms
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).
What are the internal work regulations. The internal work regulations are the document with the mandatory rules inside the company: schedules, breaks, pay days and disciplinary measures.
Frequently asked questions
Do they have to be registered with the IMSS?
Yes, if there is an employment relationship. Review the arrangement with your accountant.
Does the law require a particular system?
No. It asks that the record be electronic and include the start and end time for each person.
What happens when the STPS publishes its rules?
They will specify who the record applies to and its exceptions. It is worth checking them as soon as they appear in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
Is the maximum workday per day or per week?
There are two limits: a daily one, which did not change, and a weekly one, which drops from 48 to 40 hours between 2027 and 2030.
Is overtime counted by week?
Yes. The cap on double-time overtime is weekly and per person.
Legal basis and sources
- Electronic working-time record: article 132, section XXXIV, of the LFT and fifth transitory provision of the decree.
- 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.