Brazil abolishes six-day workweek in win for Lula
Brazil's Congress approved a constitutional amendment that abolishes the six-day workweek, reducing the standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours. The measure guarantees two paid days off without cutting salaries and could affect up to 30 million people. The Senate passed the amendment with a 75-1 vote on Wednesday, October 14. This legislative victory comes as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeks to increase his popularity and close the gap in his re-election bid ahead of a presidential runoff scheduled in 10 days.
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- ✓ Brazil's Congress approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
- ✓ The new measure guarantees two paid days off.
- ✓ The Senate approved the amendment on Wednesday, October 14, with a vote of 75-1.
- ✓ The change occurs without cutting salaries.
What changed
The Senate voted 75-1 to pass a constitutional amendment reducing the workweek to 40 hours.
Live updates
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Brazil Congress Ends Six-Day Workweek in Political Win for Lula
Brazil's Congress approved a constitutional amendment that abolishes the six-day workweek, reducing the standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours. The measure guarantees two paid days off without cutting salaries and could affect up to 30 million people. The Senate passed the amendment with a 75-1 vote on Wednesday, October 14. This legislative victory comes as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeks to increase his popularity and close the gap in his re-election bid ahead of a presidential runoff scheduled in 10 days.
Why it matters
The amendment represents a significant shift in Brazilian labor law by banning the six-day schedule. It arrives during a high-stakes election cycle where labor reforms are a central theme. Flavio Bolsonaro notably reversed his previous position to support the end of the six-day week.
What is confirmed
- Brazil's Congress approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
- The new measure guarantees two paid days off.
- The Senate approved the amendment on Wednesday, October 14, with a vote of 75-1.
- The change occurs without cutting salaries.
- Up to 30 million people could be affected by the ban on six-day workweeks.
- The vote took place ahead of a presidential runoff occurring in 10 days.
Still unconfirmed
- Lula has pledged free nationwide weekend transit as the runoff nears.
- Flavio Bolsonaro reversed his course to back the end of the six-day workweek.
What to watch next
- Results of the presidential runoff election in 10 days
- Implementation timeline for the 40-hour workweek across different sectors
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (17)
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- dw.com — Brazil to shorten workweek in win for Lula ahead of runoff
- Reuters — Brazil's Senate approves shorter workweek in win for Lula
- BBC — Brazil's Congress approves shorter working week in win for Lula
- The Guardian — Brazil cuts work week to 40 hours in win for Lula ahead of runoff
- Financial Times — Brazil abolishes six-day workweek in win for Lula
- Courthouse News — Brazil approves end of six-day workweek
- Reuters — Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro reverses course, backs end to six-day workweek
- Reuters — Lula pledges free weekend transit nationwide as Brazil runoff nears
- Le Monde.fr — Brazil's Congress approves shorter workweek
- www.theguardian.com — Brazil cuts work week to 40 hours in win for Lula ahead of runoff
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