Opposition lawmakers in Brazil's National Congress want to link the end of the 6x1 work schedule to an hourly wage payment system.
This shift in framing is significant because it moves the debate from a simple change in scheduling to a fundamental change in how workers are compensated. By defining the change as a "jornada," or work journey, the opposition aims to ensure that a reduction in hours does not lead to a reduction in total pay.
The proposal follows the Constitution and Justice Committee's approval of measures to end the 6x1 schedule on April 22, 2024 [1]. Under the current 6x1 system, employees work six days and have one day off per week. One proposed alternative suggests reducing the work week to 42 hours, while providing two days off every 60 days [2].
Lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília are arguing that hourly payments provide a fairer mechanism for compensation. They said that linking the schedule change to hourly pay addresses concerns that workers might see their earnings drop if the work week is shortened.
The National Congress was tasked with analyzing the project until the end of May 2024 [3]. The debate centers on whether the amendment should focus strictly on the "escala" — the rotation of days worked — or the broader "jornada," which encompasses the total hours and corresponding pay.
By pushing for payment per hour, the opposition seeks to create a legal framework where any hour worked is explicitly compensated, regardless of the specific shift rotation. This approach is intended to protect the financial stability of the workforce during the transition away from the traditional 6x1 model.
“Opposition lawmakers want to link the amendment that ends the 6x1 work schedule to hourly wage payment”
The transition from a 6x1 schedule to a reduced work week represents a significant shift in Brazilian labor law. By attempting to tie this change to hourly pay, the opposition is trying to prevent employers from using reduced hours as a justification to lower monthly salaries. If successful, this would change the legal definition of the Brazilian work day, potentially increasing the cost of labor for businesses while providing more rigid pay protections for employees.
