Brazil debates end of 6x1 work schedule

Debate is intensifying in Brazil regarding the end of the 6x1 work schedule, which allows for six consecutive workdays with only one day of rest. Proponents argue that the current routine negatively impacts mental and physical health, limiting time for sleep, family, and leisure. The proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) 221/2019 seeks to reduce working hours without salary reductions.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicates that working 55 hours or more per week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared to 35 to 40-hour weeks.

Politically, Flávio Bolsonaro has positioned himself against the end of the 6x1 scale, reportedly working behind the scenes in the Senate to block voting on the matter. Despite this opposition, surveys suggest that over 70% of the Brazilian population supports the reduction of the workweek without pay cuts.