Mexican workers are entitled to receive the bonus in accordance with article 87 of the Federal Labor Law (LFT). Initially, the bonus was just a bonus that some employers voluntarily granted to employees for celebrating the Christmas holidays. However, this benefit became an employment benefit from 1970 and guidelines for its provision have been established since then.
Who is entitled to the benefit?
The payment of the bonus corresponds to basic, trusted, factory, unionized, work-study or fixed-term workers. Likewise, temporary workers or trainees, commercial agents, commission agents, insurance agents and sellers are entitled to this benefit. In general, it is a benefit of employment for any person who provides services in a subordinate manner to an employer and whose employment relationship is governed by federal labor law.
How many days does the bonus correspond to?
The payment of the bonus corresponds to “at least” 15 days of salary that a worker receives for a year of service. People who have worked less than a year are entitled to payment of a proportional share.
The dispersion of the bonus always generates taxes, unless the payment is less than the equivalent of 30 units of measurement and updating (UMA), or 3,439.46 pesos.
The deadline for payment of the bonus in 2025
The bonus must be paid before December 20, as provided for in article 87 of the LFT. The law prohibits paying it in kind, whether by means of goods, vouchers, tokens or any other representation intended to replace legal tender.
The law indicates that it must be paid in cash and Mexican pesos, however, with the prior consent of the worker, it is possible to deposit it in a bank account, on a debit card or by transfer. If these transactions by alternative means generate additional costs, these must be borne by the employer.
Fines for employers who fail to pay the premium and how to take legal action
The payment of the bonus is a labor benefit protected by federal labor law. Employers who do not pay the premium, grant it incompletely or do not deposit it on time are subject to a fine of the equivalent of 50 to 5,000 AMU. In 2025, this amount corresponds to penalties ranging from 5,657 to 565,700 pesos.
Workers, unions and employee confederations can report these violations of their labor rights to the Federal Labor Defense Prosecutor’s Office (Profedet), and have a period of one year from December 20 in the event that this benefit is not covered or is paid incompletely.
There are different channels to demand payment of the premium:
- On the website of guidance and information on equality and non-discrimination in employmentIn www.gob.mx/profedet.
- To telephone numbers 01 80 07 17 29 42; 01 80 09 11 78 77 and 59 98 20 00.
- By email, to orientacionprofedet@stps.gob.mx.
- Or in person at one of the Profedet offices located throughout the country.
Self-employed workers or freelance They also have the right to receive the bonus, since the law indicates that this benefit is obligatory as long as there is a verifiable subordinate employment relationship with the employer. However, specific doubts in this area must be expressed to Profedet so that the agency can guide and determine the steps to follow.
How is the initiative to increase the bonus payment to 30 days going?
The reform aimed at increasing the period for payment of premiums from 15 to 30 days remains pending. Private sector workers remain subject to the current 15-day minimum bonus regulation, despite the initiative presented in 2024 to increase the bonus to 30 days, which is still awaiting approval in Congress.
For the initiative to be approved, it will have to go through a discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, which, after examination by the working committee, will send the document to the plenary session for approval. If the opinion is approved, the document will be sent to the Senate for approval. Finally, once this point has been reached, the proposal would be sent to President Claudia Sheinbaum for final approval and the reform would come into force upon its publication in the Official Journal of the Federation.
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