Brazil ends 6‑day work week, creates exception for high‑paid professionals

The Brazilian Congress is moving to repeal the 6×1 work‑scale that forces six consecutive days of work, introducing a two‑day weekly rest and cutting the statutory workweek from 44 to 40 hours without salary reduction. The amendment includes a transition phase: 60 days after enactment the limit drops to 42 hours, and a year later it reaches 40 hours.

An added provision exempts “hipersuficientes” – employees with a university degree earning at least twice the social‑security ceiling (about R$21,000 a month) – from formal time‑tracking rules. These workers would no longer be subject to the usual point‑clock and overtime calculations, mirroring existing exemptions for managerial positions under article 62 of the CLT. Critics argue the change raises labor costs for firms, while supporters point to social benefits such as reduced health‑care burdens, lower absenteeism and improved work‑life balance.

Analyses from IPEA and DIEESE suggest the hourly cost increase would be under 1% for large sectors, comparable to past minimum‑wage adjustments that did not harm employment. The debate centers on balancing immediate corporate costs with longer‑term gains in productivity, health and discretionary time for workers.