40% of Cancún Small Businesses May Close

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The proposed 40-hour work week by the Federal Government in Mexico is projected to result in organizational stress, a rise in informal employment, and the potential closure of numerous businesses.

Marilyn Torres, a business advisor, stated that while the economic impacts are being analyzed, it is also important to consider the emotional health implications for both employers and employees. "Few people are thinking about the psychological aspect, which is of vital importance, and no one has looked at that area," she affirmed.

How Would It Affect Microbusinesses?

She explained that in Quintana Roo, at least 90 percent of businesses are microbusinesses with no more than 10 workers. These enterprises will suffer the brunt of the legal change because they lack the financial resources to make the necessary adjustments.

"In the first place, they do not have the capacity to hire more staff to cover the rest periods of the current workforce, and this is going to generate work stress for the business owner in order to sustain their business," she said.

Furthermore, the business owner will carry this emotional strain into their home, complicating family life; the same will happen with employees. "Many small businesses, faced with this dilemma, would likely revert to informality, which in 2025 stands at 29 percent in Mexico," she explained.

Working in this manner signifies a negative impact for employees, such as not receiving their legal benefits—IMSS, Infonavit—which will cause anger and discontent among those who choose to continue working under these conditions.

She assured that, given this outlook, it is not ruled out that out of every ten microbusinesses, at least four will close their doors. Unemployment will also bring with it a very strong emotional grieving process.

She acknowledged that the Federal Government is not offering any response or incentive to carry out this change in work hours. "They are only considering the tax revenue aspect, but they are ignoring the emotional and economic problems that this situation causes," she emphasized.