Brazil’s Congress has approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum working week, giving millions of workers the possibility of having more time to rest and spend with their families. The decision could also carry political significance for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as the measure is among their priorities ahead of the October 25 presidential runoff. The amendment will reduce the maximum working week from 44 hours to 40 hours for more than 30 million workers. It will also end six-day workweeks, which are currently followed by around 16 million people, according to The Guardian .
The change is expected to mainly affect workers in retail shops, restaurants and hotels, many of whom receive low wages.
However, Bolsonaro changed his position on Tuesday, saying that most Brazilian workers supported the proposal. He voted in favour of the amendment on Wednesday while campaigning in southern Brazil. Only one senator, Hamilton Mourao, a former vice president under Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father, voted against it. The proposal had already passed the lower house in May. President Lula strongly supported the amendment, which could give some workers an extra day off each week. He celebrated its approval in a social media post, saying that ending the six-day work schedule would give people more time to rest, spend time with their families, watch their children grow up and take care of themselves. The proposal began as a TikTok movement called Life Beyond Work. It was started by a pharmacy assistant who later entered politics. Lula and his party subsequently supported the campaign and pushed for the proposal to be put to a vote in the Senate. Far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Lula’s opponent in the presidential runoff, had opposed the reform for months. In May, he warned that the proposal could lead to large-scale unemployment, an argument also raised by business groups opposing the change. This support also influenced the decision to move forward with the vote despite opposition from some political groups.
On Wednesday, 75 senators voted in favour of the amendment. The proposal had gained support from more than 70% of the general population, according to polls.
Despite supporting the amendment, Bolsonaro said he preferred an alternative plan under which pay would depend on the number of hours actually worked. Reports also said he had told business leaders that he would review parts of the amendment if elected.
