The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies will receive Finance Minister Dario Durigan and Secretary-General Guilherme Boulos this week to discuss ending the 6x1 work schedule [1, 2].

The meetings center on the economic and social implications of reducing the standard work week. Because the 6x1 model requires employees to work six days for every one day of rest, any legislative shift would fundamentally alter labor costs and worker quality of life across the country.

Durigan and Boulos are scheduled to appear before the special commission tasked with evaluating the transition [1, 2]. The discussions will focus on how a shorter work week would impact national productivity and the fiscal stability of businesses relying on the current model.

This legislative push is tied to PEC 8/2025 [3], the proposed amendment aimed at eliminating the 6x1 scale. The proposal has already seen significant movement within the government, including a previous vote in the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) on Sept. 22 [3].

Lawmakers are weighing the balance between labor rights, and the potential for increased operational costs for small and medium enterprises. The testimony from the Finance Ministry is expected to provide the data necessary to determine if the transition can be managed without triggering significant inflation or unemployment.

Boulos and Durigan will provide the commission with perspectives on how the reduction of the work journey aligns with current government social goals. The special commission's findings will determine the viability of the amendment as it moves through the legislative process in the Chamber of Deputies [1, 2].

“The meetings center on the economic and social implications of reducing the standard work week.”

The move to end the 6x1 schedule represents a significant shift in Brazil's labor policy, moving toward a model that prioritizes worker wellness and potentially stimulates job creation by redistributing hours. However, the involvement of the Finance Minister suggests that the government is acutely aware of the potential for increased payroll costs, which could pressure the service and retail sectors.