Deputy Leo Prates (Republicanos-BA) proposed removing work-day limits for employees earning more than R$ 16,000 per month on Wednesday [1].
The proposal aims to transition high-salary professionals from independent contractor status to the formal Consolidated Labor Laws (CLT) regime. By eliminating rigid hourly schedules for top earners, the lawmaker believes the formal system will become more attractive to those who already operate without fixed hours.
Prates presented the idea during a meeting of the special commission of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília [1]. He said the goal is to encourage workers currently operating as legal entities, known as PJ, to migrate to the CLT regime [2].
The proposal focuses specifically on a salary threshold of R$ 16,000 per month [1]. Under this plan, individuals exceeding this income level would not be subject to the standard work-day restrictions that apply to the broader workforce.
This movement occurs amid discussions regarding the 6x1 PEC, which addresses work schedules and labor rights in Brazil [2]. Prates said that high-earning professionals typically manage their own time and that the current rigid limits of the CLT regime act as a barrier to their formal employment [2].
The initiative seeks to balance the protections of formal employment with the flexibility required by high-level professional roles. By targeting a specific income bracket, the proposal attempts to modernize labor laws without altering the protections afforded to lower-wage workers.
“Removing work-day limits for employees earning more than R$ 16,000 per month.”
This proposal reflects a strategic attempt to formalize a segment of the Brazilian workforce that prefers the flexibility of corporate contracting over traditional employment. By creating a 'high-earner' exception to work-hour limits, the government hopes to increase the number of workers under the CLT regime, which provides more stability and tax contributions, while acknowledging that top-tier professional roles often defy standard 9-to-5 schedules.
