Jonathan Bench speaks with Rogelio Vargas Méndez, senior partner leading the labor division at Rivadeneyra, Treviño & de Campo, about how Mexico’s employment law is evolving amid nearshoring, globalization, and shifting workplace expectations. They explore what makes Mexico’s system distinctive—one federal labor law nationwide, rooted in constitutional “social” rights—and how the landmark 2019 reform (shaped in part by USMCA dynamics) transformed collective bargaining, union democracy, and dispute resolution. Rogelio explains the move away from the old labor board structure toward more professional labor courts, and the growing role of mandatory conciliation, which is resolving a large share of disputes before litigation. The conversation also tackles the impending reduction of the workweek from 48 to 40 hours, the economic and cultural implications of that shift, and the ongoing challenge of employment informality and its ripple effects on taxes and social security. Jonathan and Rogelio close with a look at Puebla’s role in Mexico’s automotive ecosystem, common misconceptions foreign investors bring, and a personal note on Rogelio’s path from American football to labor law—and the sports career he’d pursue if law weren’t the calling.