A Brazilian court ordered the federal government to remove paid advertisements promoting the end of the 6x1 work-schedule scheme within 48 hours [1].
The ruling marks a significant legal clash between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration and political opposition over the use of taxpayer funds for policy promotion. It highlights the tension between government communication and the legal boundaries of public spending during political debates.
The decision came from the Justice Federal of the Distrito Federal in May 2026 [1]. The court acted following a lawsuit filed by Deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), who said that the government's campaign exceeded its informational mandate [1].
According to the court, the advertisements were not merely providing information to the public. The judge said that the campaign constituted a misuse of public resources and amounted to economic abuse by the federal government [1], [2].
Under the terms of the order, the administration was given a 48-hour deadline [1] to take down the materials. The court said that failure to comply with the removal of the ads would result in a fine [2].
The 6x1 work-schedule scheme, which allows for six days of work followed by one day of rest, has been a point of contention in Brazilian labor discussions. The government's attempt to promote its end via paid media was viewed by the opposition as an inappropriate use of state machinery to advance a specific political agenda [1].
“The court found that the advertisements exceeded a purely informational purpose.”
This ruling restricts the Brazilian government's ability to use paid advertising to build public support for controversial labor reforms. By classifying the campaign as economic abuse rather than public information, the court is establishing a stricter boundary on how the executive branch can communicate policy changes without crossing into political campaigning using public funds.
