Labor reform ·
Electronic recording of working hours in Mexico: what the reform requires and how to comply
What article 132, section XXXIV of the Federal Labor Law says, what the electronic record must include, what the STPS must still define and how to prepare.
The reform added a new obligation for employers: keeping an electronic record of working hours. It is the most practical change in the decree, because it affects every company with employees, whatever its size.
What the text says
Article 132, section XXXIV, requires the employer to electronically record the working hours of each employee. The record must include the start and end time of the workday and must be provided to the authority when requested.
What is still to be defined
The fifth transitory article states that the general provisions for this section take effect on January 1, 2027. The Labor Ministry (STPS) must issue them, and they will define the scope and the exceptions. As of today they have not been published, so the technical details (format, platform, retention) are not yet defined.
What a good electronic record should have
- Start and end time for each person, every day.
- Traceability: who recorded it, when and from where.
- Fraud resistance: nobody can clock in for someone else.
- Availability: you can search it and hand it over when the authority asks.
- Coverage: it also works for field staff, several sites or remote workers.
A simple plan to prepare
- Take inventory of how you record attendance today at each workplace.
- Replace paper, spreadsheets and offline clocks with a system that stores every clock-in with date and time.
- Test the system during 2026, while the adjustment window is open.
- When the STPS publishes its provisions, confirm your system meets its requirements.
How PPanel helps
PPanel records check-in and check-out from each person’s phone, with date, time, location and optional photo, and keeps a searchable history. When the STPS publishes its general provisions, we will confirm alignment with them. Request a demo.
Sources
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law, Official Gazette (DOF), May 1, 2026 (in Spanish)
- Constitutional reform decree, article 123, section A, subsections IV and XI (DOF, in Spanish)
- INEGI, value of the UMA (Unit of Measure and Update)
Informational content based on the text published in the DOF. It is not legal advice. PPanel is a recording tool: subscribing to it does not release a company from its obligations, and legal compliance is the responsibility of each employer. Consult your labor attorney for your case. Last reviewed: October 12, 2026. The general rules from the Labor Ministry (STPS) on electronic time recording have not been published yet; we will update this guide when they are.