Brazil’s Congress has approved a constitutional amendment that reduces the working week from 44 hours to 40. Under the change, employees will receive two days off each week without losing pay.
The change is the largest overhaul of workers’ rights since the South American country returned to democracy in 1988. The Senate vote took place on Wednesday, with 75 senators in favour and one against, less than two weeks before the second round of the presidential election.
Senate passes measure backed by President Lula
The amendment was championed by left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. It had already cleared the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house, in May before senators voted on it.
Lula’s supporters hope the measure, which is estimated to benefit more than 30 million workers, will help him close the gap with his right-wing rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, ahead of the 25 October run-off. In the first round, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro took 47% of the vote, while Lula won 45.2%. Neither candidate reached the 50% of valid votes needed to avoid a second round.
Opinion polls suggest the proposal is highly popular. One nationwide survey found that almost 70% of Brazilians backed it.
Flávio Bolsonaro shifts from opposition to support
Flávio Bolsonaro, who is currently a senator, had opposed the measure but changed his position and voted in favour. Announcing the switch on Tuesday, he said he had been swayed by its popularity, adding that he would vote to end the six-day week.
Earlier, he had denounced the proposal as an “opportunistic” attempt by his rival to appeal to working-class voters. He had argued that employers and employees should agree on work schedules themselves, rather than having them set by a constitutional amendment.
Lula described the reversal as “electoral opportunism” and welcomed the approval, saying it would make a real difference for workers. In a social media post, he wrote: “It means more time to live, rest, be with family, watch your children grow up, look after yourself and enjoy life.”
Phased rollout and mixed views on costs
Critics have warned that the change will raise production costs, which they say will eventually be passed on to consumers as higher prices. Supporters argue that two days of rest will leave workers better rested and more productive during the hours they do work.
The reduction will be phased in. The week will first fall to 42 hours after a two-month grace period, and later to 40 hours. The full changes will take more than a year to take effect, although many backers are already celebrating.
Luciana de Almeida, 36, works six days a week as a cashier in a supermarket. The single mother, who lives in Rio de Janeiro, said the change would “make a lot of difference” to her life. She said her only day off was usually spent on household chores, leaving her little time with her three children.
“My body, and my mind in particular, are very tired,” she said. “I need time with my daughters, have some leisure time, or even just some time resting at home.”
