Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional amendment that ends the six-day-work, one-day-off schedule in favor of a 5x2 model [2].
This legislative shift represents a significant change to the country's labor laws, potentially altering the quality of life for millions of workers and the operational costs for businesses across the nation.
The measure reduces the official weekly work limit from 44 to 40 hours [1]. The decision followed a political agreement between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) [1, 3].
The Chamber held the plenary vote in two rounds on the night of April 24, 2026 [4]. This approval allows the proposal to move forward to the Federal Senate for further consideration [2, 4].
The agreement between the presidency and the Chamber leadership aimed to create a more streamlined text to ensure the proposal's viability [3]. The move to a five-day workweek with two days off is intended to reform labor legislation, and reduce overall working hours [3].
While the transition is now under discussion, some government officials have signaled a firm stance on the financial implications of the change. José Guimarães, the Minister of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, said, "É possível discutir a transição, mas rejeitamos a desoneração" [5].
The amendment now faces the Senate, where lawmakers will determine if the 40-hour limit and the 5x2 schedule will become permanent law across the country [2, 4].
“The measure reduces the official weekly work limit from 44 to 40 hours.”
The transition from a 6x1 to a 5x2 work schedule marks a pivot toward European-style labor standards in Brazil. By reducing the weekly cap to 40 hours, the government is prioritizing worker wellbeing and leisure, though the rejection of tax exemptions (desoneração) suggests the administration expects businesses to absorb the cost of the shorter workweek without federal subsidies.
