A special commission of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the base text of a constitutional amendment to end the 6x1 work schedule on Wednesday [1, 2].
The move seeks to improve labor conditions for millions of workers by eliminating a demanding cycle of six working days followed by one day of rest. This shift aims to prioritize worker well-being and modern labor standards across the country [3, 4].
Under the proposed amendment, the standard weekly workweek would be reduced from 44 hours to 40 hours [1]. The text ensures that this reduction in hours occurs without any corresponding cuts to worker salaries [1, 2]. Additionally, the amendment guarantees that employees receive two days of rest per week [1, 2].
The commission's vote was decisive, with 34 members voting in favor and four voting against [2]. The legislation is expected to impact approximately 16 million workers across various sectors of the Brazilian economy [4].
Details regarding the implementation of the new schedule remain a point of discussion. Some reports indicate the transition will occur in two stages [1], while other sources suggest a transition period of one year [3].
The vote took place in the plenary room of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília [1, 2]. The proposal was driven by the need to eliminate a schedule many consider overly demanding and detrimental to health [3, 4].
Because the measure is a constitutional amendment, it must still pass further legislative hurdles before becoming law. While the commission has approved the base text, the full plenary of the Chamber has not yet cast its final vote on the measure [1, 5].
“The standard weekly workweek would be reduced from 44 hours to 40 hours.”
The approval of this base text signals a significant legislative shift toward shorter workweeks in Brazil. By targeting the 6x1 model, the government is addressing a specific point of labor contention that affects a massive portion of the workforce. If passed by the full plenary, this would represent one of the most substantial changes to Brazilian labor law in recent years, potentially forcing industries to reorganize staffing and operational hours to maintain productivity with fewer worker hours.
