Aguinaldo is Mexico's year-end bonus. The law owes it to every worker, including the housekeeper, cook or nanny who works in your home (LFT art. 334 Bis; LFT art. 87 ¶1).
This guide covers a worker employed in a private home. If the home is also rented short-term and the worker looks after your guests, ask a labor lawyer whether the household-work rules still apply (LFT arts. 331–332).
How much you owe
A full year of work earns a set number of days' salary as aguinaldo, and you can agree to pay more, never less (LFT art. 87 ¶1).
In 2026, that's at least 15 days of salary (LFT art. 87 ¶1).
Someone who worked for you for only part of the year gets the proportional part, in proportion to the time they worked for you, whether or not they still work for you on the payment date (LFT art. 87 ¶2).
It's worked out on the daily salary: what you pay for the whole pay period divided by the days it covers, paid days off included (LFT art. 89; LSS art. 29 fr. II). In 2026, a salary set by the month is divided by 30 days, however often it's paid (LFT art. 89; LSS art. 29 fr. II).
Here's a worked example for 2026. Take a full-time worker paid the domestic minimum wage in cash, outside the northern border zone, which comes to 10,274.10 pesos a month (CNSM 2026, Resolutivo Octavo, oficio 56 "Trabajador(a) del hogar"; LFT art. 335). After a full year, their aguinaldo is at least 5,137.05 pesos (LFT art. 87 ¶1).
How we worked this out
- The domestic minimum wage: 342.47 pesos a day (CNSM 2026, Resolutivo Octavo, oficio 56 "Trabajador(a) del hogar"; LFT art. 335)
- Days a monthly salary covers: 30 days (LFT art. 89; LSS art. 29 fr. II)
- Daily salary: 10,274.10 pesos a month ÷ 30 days = 342.47 pesos (LFT art. 89; LSS art. 29 fr. II)
- Aguinaldo for a full year: at least 15 days of salary (LFT art. 87 ¶1)
- Days worked in the year: 365 of 365 (LFT art. 87 ¶2)
- Aguinaldo: 342.47 pesos × 15 days = 5,137.05 pesos (LFT art. 87 ¶1)
This is an estimate, not legal or tax advice. Casa al Día is software, not a law or accounting firm. Laws and minimum wages change, and every case has its own facts, so confirm the amount with a labor lawyer or a contador before you make a decision. How we calculated this
What the law leaves open
- Food and lodging. The law puts a value on the food and lodging you provide (LFT art. 334 ¶3; open point: how that value applies is a question for a labor lawyer), but whether it counts in the salary aguinaldo is paid on is a question for a labor lawyer. Our calculator uses the cash wage only.
- Part-time and day-rate work. How to count the days for someone paid by the day, or who works only some days a week, is a question for a labor lawyer (LFT art. 87 ¶1; open point: our lawyer is reviewing part-time and day-rate work).
When to pay it
The law sets a last day to pay aguinaldo, and the date doesn't move when it falls on a weekend (LFT art. 87 ¶1).
In 2026, the law's last day is December 19 (LFT art. 87 ¶1). When that day falls on a weekend, we suggest paying on the weekday before, and our suggested day for 2026 is Friday, December 18, 2026 (open point: our lawyer is reviewing the weekday suggestion). That's our suggestion, not the law (Product rule; LFT art. 109; open point: our lawyer is reviewing it).
How we worked this out
- The law's last day: December 19, 2026 (LFT art. 87 ¶1)
- Our suggestion, a product choice the lawyer is reviewing: the law's last day is a Saturday, so we suggest the weekday before, Friday, December 18, 2026 (an open point) (Product rule; LFT art. 109)
This is an estimate, not legal or tax advice. Casa al Día is software, not a law or accounting firm. Laws and minimum wages change, and every case has its own facts, so confirm the amount with a labor lawyer or a contador before you make a decision. How we calculated this
If they stop working for you on or before the law's last day, pay their proportional aguinaldo with their final pay (LFT art. 87 ¶2; open point: paying it with the final pay is our reading, which our lawyer is confirming).
If they stop working for you after that day but before the end of the year, they were still working for you on the payment date, so we count their days to the end of the year (LFT art. 87 ¶1; open point: counting to the end of the year is our reading, which our lawyer is confirming).
Frequently asked questions
Do I owe aguinaldo to a part-time housekeeper?
Yes. The law gives aguinaldo to every worker, in proportion to the time worked when it's less than a full year (LFT art. 87 ¶2). How to count the days for someone who comes only some days a week is a question for a labor lawyer (LFT art. 87 ¶1; open point: our lawyer is reviewing part-time work).
My housekeeper started this year. What do I owe?
The proportional part, for the days from their start date to the end of the year (LFT art. 87 ¶2).
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend?
No. The law's date doesn't move (LFT art. 87 ¶1). Paying on the weekday before is our suggestion, so the money arrives in time (Product rule; LFT art. 109; open point: our lawyer is reviewing it).
What if they left during the year?
They still get the proportional part for the days they worked (LFT art. 87 ¶2), paid with their final pay (LFT art. 87 ¶2; open point: paying it with the final pay is our reading, which our lawyer is confirming).