Mexico City will implement a one-day shift to remote work for federal employees and suspend classes across the education system on June 11, under a decree signed by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The government says the decisions are intended to support urban mobility and road safety as the capital hosts the FIFA World Cup opening match and associated events that day.
The decree directs federal agencies to activate telework schemes for staff whose duties are based in the capital. Agencies are required to maintain in-person staffing only where operations qualify as essential, with explicit exceptions that include healthcare, security, critical infrastructure and functions tied to World Cup operations.
Under the same directive, schools at all levels - from preschool through university - will be closed for the day, covering both public and private institutions. The government also publicly urged private companies to follow suit and allow employees to work from home for June 11 to reduce the number of vehicles and commuters on the roads.
Officials framed the measures as a logistics and safety response to a day of heightened public activity: opening events connected to the tournament are expected to draw significant numbers of visitors, which could increase traffic pressures and pose risks to road safety.
The decree leaves in place in-person requirements for a defined set of essential services. Those exceptions are intended to ensure continuity of medical care, law enforcement and the operation of critical infrastructure alongside the logistics of staging World Cup activities.
Context and operational notes
- The main objective stated by the authorities is to improve urban mobility and reduce road-safety risks tied to a major public event.
- Federal agencies must implement remote work arrangements, though the measure exempts essential services in health, security, critical infrastructure and World Cup operations.
- Both public and private educational institutions from preschool to university will not hold classes on June 11, and the government has encouraged private-sector adoption of similar telework policies.
While the decree establishes a central policy for federal workers and schools, it relies in part on voluntary compliance by private employers. The effectiveness of the measures in easing congestion and improving road safety will depend on the level of uptake beyond the federal workforce and on the management of exceptions for essential services.