Curiosity About Minimum Wage

I have known for a long time that in Mexico, the minimum wage is expressed as a “daily” minimum wage. I always assumed that meant the minimum wage for days worked.

For example, currently the minimum wage in Guerrero is M$250 per day. I figured M$250 times 6 workdays equals M$1,500.

Recently someone told me no, the minimum weekly wage would be M$250 times seven days in a week equals M$1,750 per week. Huh? Getting paid on days one doesn’t work?

This website says it is different even from that. It says that the minimum wage is based on 292 working days, plus 52 Sundays, plus 7 statutory holidays, plus 14 vacation days (equals 365 days) multiplied by M$250/day. So it’s actually an annual minimum wage, divided by 365 days.

Hmm.

Say wha'?

From the horse's mouth:

https://www.gob.mx/conasami

"El salario mínimo es la cantidad mínima recibida por jornada de trabajo."

"The minimum wage is the minimum amount received for a day's work."

Emphasis is mine. No, the wage is NOT based on a yearly amount though there may be legal instances where that applies, but let's keep it simple, as the concept was intended to be.

The wage varies based on the type of work, but not very much. And the border states enjoy a higher minimum wage than the rest of the country.