Brazil abolishes six-day workweek in landmark reform affecting 30 million workers

Brazil abolishes six-day workweek in landmark reform affecting 30 million workers

The constitutional amendment will gradually cut the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours, giving more than 30 million workers two days off each week without reducing their pay.

Brazil has approved a landmark constitutional amendment that will abolish six-day workweeks and gradually reduce the maximum working week from 44 hours to 40 hours, giving millions of workers more time to rest and spend with their families without losing pay.

The reform is expected to affect more than 30 million workers, including 16 million who currently work six days a week. It will take effect 60 days after the amendment is formally approved, when the maximum working week will be reduced to 42 hours. A further reduction to 40 hours will follow 12 months later, completing the transition over 14 months.

The changes are expected to benefit workers in the retail, restaurant and hotel sectors, where six-day work schedules are common. Under the new arrangement, workers will be entitled to two days of rest each week while retaining their current pay.

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Brazil’s Congress approved the amendment on Wednesday by 75 votes to one, following the lower house’s approval of the proposal in May. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed the decision, having made the reform a central pillar of his re-election campaign.

“The 6x1 schedule is over! A historic achievement for millions of workers, who will now have more time to rest, be with their family, take care of themselves, and live. Those who build Brazil every day also deserve time to live. It's Brazil ready for more,” he said on X.

The approval comes ahead of Brazil’s October 25 presidential runoff between Lula and right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro led the first round earlier this month with 47.03 per cent of the vote, compared with Lula’s 45.16 per cent.

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Experts say the reform could strengthen Lula’s chances of winning the runoff by allowing him to claim a major victory on an issue that has attracted widespread public support.

Bolsonaro had opposed the proposal for months, warning that reducing working hours could lead to job losses. However, he voted in favour of the amendment shortly before the Senate ballot, as growing public support for ending six-day work schedules made continued opposition politically difficult.

The proposal gained momentum through a grassroots campaign demanding that workers be given more time away from their jobs. Lula and his political allies later embraced the demand and pushed for a Senate vote.

Despite the approval, workers will have to wait until after the October 25 presidential runoff for the changes to take effect.