Brazil government proposes end to 6x1 work schedule

The Brazilian government and members of Congress are negotiating a bill to end the 6x1 work schedule in favor of a 5x2 model ^[1].

This shift aims to improve labor conditions by reducing excessive hours and aligning national standards with modern worker needs while maintaining current pay levels [1, 2].

Legislators have reached consensus on three primary pillars for the new system: the adoption of a 5x2 schedule, a 40-hour weekly workweek, and a guarantee that there will be no reduction in salaries ^[1]. The government officially sent the bill to Congress on April 14, 2026 ^[2].

Despite the agreement on these core tenets, tension remains regarding the legislative process. Guilherme Boulos, Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, said the government will send the bill with urgency if it perceives "enrolação" — or stalling — from Congress ^[3].

However, Chamber president Hugo Motta has reportedly attempted to persuade President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to waive the urgency of the project ^[4]. While some reports indicate the two leaders met to discuss the transition, other accounts suggest Motta is actively seeking to block the expedited timeline ^[4].

Opposition to the measure has also appeared in the form of specific amendments. On April 16, 2026, Nikolas Ferreira presented an amendment proposing that the government pay companies to offset the costs of ending the 6x1 scale ^[5].

The proposal is currently being discussed within a special commission in Brasília. Under the current timeline, Congress is required to analyze the proposal by the end of May 2026 ^[4].