Brazil's Congress approves shorter working week in win for Lula
Brazil's Congress and Senate approved a constitutional amendment reducing the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours without reducing worker salaries. The move abolishes the six-day workweek for millions of employees and is described as a victory for incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This legislative win occurs as Brazil enters the final week before the October 25 presidential runoff between Lula and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. The amendment was supported by Flavio Bolsonaro, who reversed his previous position to back the end of the six-day workweek.
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- ✓ Brazil's Congress and Senate approved a reduction of the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
- ✓ The workweek reduction will be implemented without cutting salaries.
- ✓ The legislation ends the six-day workweek.
- ✓ The presidential runoff between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro is scheduled for October 25.
What changed
Congress and the Senate passed a constitutional amendment lowering the maximum workweek to 40 hours.
Live updates
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Brazil Congress Approves Reduction of Maximum Workweek to 40 Hours
Brazil's Congress and Senate approved a constitutional amendment reducing the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours without reducing worker salaries. The move abolishes the six-day workweek for millions of employees and is described as a victory for incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This legislative win occurs as Brazil enters the final week before the October 25 presidential runoff between Lula and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. The amendment was supported by Flavio Bolsonaro, who reversed his previous position to back the end of the six-day workweek.
Why it matters
The policy change aims to provide workers more time to live while maintaining their current pay levels. It arrives during a tightly contested election cycle where polls show the race between the left-wing incumbent and right-wing challenger is tied.
What is confirmed
- Brazil's Congress and Senate approved a reduction of the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
- The workweek reduction will be implemented without cutting salaries.
- The legislation ends the six-day workweek.
- The presidential runoff between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro is scheduled for October 25.
- Flavio Bolsonaro changed his position to support the end of the six-day workweek.
Still unconfirmed
- Polls show the presidential race is currently tied.
- Lula has pledged free nationwide weekend transit as the runoff nears.
What to watch next
- The results of the October 25 presidential runoff election.
- Meta's response to the Superior Electoral Court's 24-hour ultimatum regarding equal treatment of candidates.
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (19)
- en.wikipedia.org — Brazil - Wikipedia
- www.worldatlas.com — Brazil Maps & Facts - World Atlas
- www.countryreports.org — Brazil — Facts, Capital, Population, Flag & Profile
- en.wikipedia.org — History of Brazil - Wikipedia
- www.yahoo.com — Yahoo
- 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
- Fortune — ‘More time to live’: Brazil moves to cut the workweek to 40 hours without reducing pay for millions of workers
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