Brazil construction sector warns of labor shortages following 6x1 work schedule proposal

The Brazilian construction industry is warning of significant disruptions following the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee approval of a Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) to end the 6x1 work schedule. The proposal aims to reduce the weekly workload from 44 to 40 hours.

Industry estimates suggest that implementing this change would require hiring approximately 288,000 new professionals to maintain current production levels. However, sector leaders, including Yorki Estefan of SindusCon-SP, report that these workers are currently unavailable in the market, exacerbating existing shortages of bricklayers, carpenters, and machine operators.

The Chamber of Brazilian Construction Industry (Cbic) calculates the potential financial impact at R$ 155.6 billion annually. Beyond direct labor costs, which could rise by up to 15%, the industry warns of extended project timelines. For example, a residential building project typically taking 30 months could extend to 33 months due to the loss of Saturdays, which currently serve as technical reserves for weather delays. The Association of Brazilian Developers (Abrainc) further estimates that property prices could rise by approximately 5.5%.