Congress promulgates reduction of working hours in Brazil

O Brazilian National Congress today enacted the amendment to the Constitution that reduces the weekly working day without reduction of wages, at a ceremony with the presence of the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva.

Popularly called “End of Scale 6×1”, the Proposal for Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) was approved by the overwhelming majority of the Brazilian Senate on Wednesday, and counted on votes by Flávio Bolsonaro and his Liberal Party (PL), initially contrary to the measure.

The change guarantees workers two days of paid rest per week and, in practice, reduces the working hours of the present 44 hours per week to 40 hours.

Although this journey is not unanimous throughout the country, the 6×1 scale is very common for people working in the service sector, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, and industry sectors.

The end of scale 6×1, i.e. the entry into force of five working days and two rest days, was harshly criticized by large employers and trade unions in the areas of industry, trade and services.

In general, they classified the measure as negative for the economy, saying that it will result in layoffs and the precariousness of essential services.

The new rules have no immediate effect. From the publication in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), there will be a gradual transition period.

In 60 days, the journey goes from 44 hours to 42 hours a week. After a year of validity of the new measure, finally, the day falls to 40 weekly hours of work.

The enactment of the constitutional amendment took place at a ceremony in the National Congress with the presence of the presidents of the Republic, the House of Deputies (Hugo Motta) and the Senate (Davi Alcolumbre).

In his speech, Lula da Silva, who is a candidate for re-election in the second round of Presidential appointments for the 25th, erected a copy of the Brazilian Constitution and countered criticisms of the approval of the measure.

The left-wing leader stated that “no one wants the company to break, but no one wants a worker to die for lack of rest.”.

“It is to combine the maintenance and existence of the company, with the maintenance and health of women and men who work. And in a while you will realize that this problem is over”, completed.

The approval of the constitutional amendment is one of Lula's main weapons to reverse the result of the first round, which put him behind Flávio Bolsonaro, Senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, with a difference of 2.2 million votes, and try to win the elections.

The accelerated process, a few days after the second round, was possible thanks to an agreement between the Government and David Alcolumbre, who sees the re-election in command of the Senate, in February 2027, threatened by the PL, which last day 04 elected most of the 81 senators.

Still in his speech, Lula said that the debate for the approval of the PEC of the End of Scale 6×1 was only possible thanks to democracy, remembering that he had recent disagreements with the president of the Senate and with opposition parliamentarians.

“ Today is a day that shows that democracy is worth”, he said, stating that the 1988 Constitution became “even more citizen” and “more defender of Brazilian society” and calling change a “historical conquest” for workers.