Brazil advances proposal to end 6x1 work schedule

A legislative proposal in Brazil to end the ‘6x1’ work schedule—where employees work six days for every one day of rest—is advancing through the Senate. The Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC 221/2019) recently passed the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and is moving toward a plenary vote.

The proposal seeks to reduce the maximum weekly working hours from 44 to 40, ensuring two paid days of rest per week without reducing worker salaries. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has supported the measure, framing it as a way to improve quality of life, allowing workers more time for family, education, and rest.

The impact of the change will vary across sectors. In the education sector, where teachers are often paid by the hour, schools may face increased payroll costs or the need to hire more staff. In the retail sector, businesses operating on weekends may need to reorganize shifts or hire additional employees to maintain operations during the new mandatory rest days. For workers currently on a 44-hour schedule, the transition to 40 hours would effectively increase the value of their hourly wage by approximately 10% if salaries remain constant.