Mexican labor law has its own chapter for paid household work in a private home, such as cleaning, cooking or looking after children, and it sets rules you follow as an employer (LFT arts. 331–332).
This checklist 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).
The checklist
- A written contract. The law requires a written contract, with the terms it lists (LFT art. 331 Ter).
- Registration with IMSS. Registering a household worker with IMSS, Mexico's social security institute, is mandatory (LSS art. 12 fr. IV). Our IMSS guide walks you through it.
- At least the minimum wage, in cash. Household work has its own minimum wage (CNSM 2026, Resolutivo Octavo, oficio 56 "Trabajador(a) del hogar"; LFT art. 335). It's paid in cash, so food and lodging don't count toward it (LFT art. 90), and a short day still owes a full day's minimum (LFT art. 83). In 2026, it's 342.47 pesos a day, or 440.87 pesos a day in the northern border zone (CNSM 2026, Resolutivo Octavo, oficio 56 "Trabajador(a) del hogar"; LFT art. 335).
- Pay at short, regular intervals. The law sets the longest a pay period can run, and monthly pay breaks it (LFT art. 88; open point: which limit applies to household work is a question for a labor lawyer). In 2026, the limit is 7 days (open point: which limit applies to household work is a question for a labor lawyer) for manual work and 15 days (open point: the same question applies) for other work (LFT art. 88; open point: which limit applies to household work is a question for a labor lawyer).
- Working hours within the limit. The law caps the working day, with a lower cap for night work (LFT art. 61). In 2026, a day shift is at most 8 hours (LFT arts. 61, 333; CPEUM art. 123 A fr. I).
- A weekly rest. Household workers get an uninterrupted weekly rest, preferably on the weekend (LFT art. 336). In 2026, it's at least 1.5 days (LFT art. 336).
- Rest for a live-in worker. A worker who lives in also gets an unbroken rest at night and a break during the day (LFT art. 333). In 2026, that's at least 9 hours in a row at night and 3 hours between morning and evening work (LFT art. 333).
- Food, and lodging for a live-in worker. You provide food to every household worker, and lodging as well to a worker who lives in (LFT art. 334 ¶1).
- Paid vacation with a premium. Vacation days grow with years of service (LFT art. 76 (DOF 27-12-2022); art. 336 Bis; open point: the bands for later years follow the usual reading, which a labor lawyer is confirming), and the law adds a vacation premium on top of their pay (LFT art. 80; art. 334 Bis). In 2026, vacation starts at 12 days (open point: the bands for later years follow the usual reading, which a labor lawyer is confirming), and the premium is at least 25% of the pay for those days (LFT art. 80; art. 334 Bis).
- Aguinaldo by the deadline. The year-end bonus is due by a date the law sets (LFT art. 87 ¶1). Our aguinaldo guide and calculator work out how much and when.
- Holiday pay. A worker who works on a mandatory rest day is paid extra for it (LFT arts. 74, 75, 336). In 2026, the total for that day is 3 times the day's pay (LFT arts. 74, 75, 336).
- No worker under the minimum age. The law sets a minimum age for household work, and teenagers above it have shorter hours and need medical certificates (LFT art. 331 Bis). In 2026, the minimum age is 15 years (LFT art. 331 Bis).
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to a housekeeper who comes only some days a week?
Yes. How the weekly rest, vacation days and minimum-wage check scale for someone who works only some days a week is a question for a labor lawyer (LFT art. 336; open point: our lawyer is reviewing part-time work). The household-work chapter covers paid household work, and the minimum wage is owed for every day worked, even a short day (LFT art. 83). Only occasional or sporadic work falls outside the IMSS regime (LSS art. 239-B).
Do I need a contract if we've worked together for years?
Yes. The law requires a written contract for household work, however long the job has run (LFT art. 331 Ter).
Does the food I give count as part of the salary?
Not toward the minimum wage, which is paid in cash (LFT art. 90). You still have to provide food (LFT art. 334 ¶1). Unless you agree otherwise, the law also counts the food and lodging you provide as part of the worker's pay and puts a value on it (LFT art. 334 ¶3; open point: how that value applies, for example to severance, is a question for a labor lawyer).
What happens if I haven't registered them with IMSS?
IMSS can fine an employer who doesn't register a worker, or registers late (LSS art. 304 A). Our IMSS guide explains how to put it right.