Deputy Leo Prates (Republicanos-BA) is scheduled to present a report on a constitutional amendment to end the 6x1 work schedule on Monday, May 25, 2024 [1].
The proposal seeks to eliminate the current system where employees work six days and have one day off. A change to this labor structure would significantly alter working conditions for millions of Brazilian workers, and impact operational costs for businesses across the country.
Prates is the relator for the special commission of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília [2]. The report follows a series of seminars designed to evaluate the feasibility of reducing the work week. Following the presentation of the report on May 25, 2024 [1], the proposal is expected to move toward a plenary vote on Thursday, May 28, 2024 [1].
The debate over the 6x1 schedule has created a divide within the legislature. While proponents of the amendment aim for a general reduction in working hours, some opposition sectors have proposed a different compromise. Certain parties have advocated for a cap of 52 hours per week [3] as an alternative to a total ban on the 6x1 system.
This constitutional amendment, known as a PEC, requires a high threshold of support to pass. The special commission's findings will determine whether the report recommends the full adoption of the reduction or a modified version of the labor rules. The upcoming plenary vote will decide if the measure advances toward becoming law [1].
“A change to this labor structure would significantly alter working conditions for millions of Brazilian workers.”
The debate over the 6x1 work schedule represents a broader conflict between labor rights advocates and business interests in Brazil. If the PEC is approved, it would signal a shift toward shorter work weeks to improve worker quality of life, though the potential for a 52-hour cap suggests that the final legislation may be a compromise rather than a total elimination of the current schedule.
