Brazil moves to end 6‑day work weeks with new domestic‑worker law

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional amendment that will eliminate the traditional six‑day‑one‑day work schedule for domestic employees. The measure, known as the PEC, will gradually shift the standard weekly hours from the current 44 to 40 hours, first reducing to 42 hours after 60 days and reaching 40 hours after 14 months. Overtime will be payable from the 41st hour onward, and salaries will remain unchanged.

The reform will affect roughly 8 million domestic workers—babysitters, cooks, cleaners and others—who will gain two weekly rest days, preferably including Sunday. Employers are expected to reorganize household tasks and may incur higher labor costs due to the new overtime rules. The change has sparked broader discussion on work‑hour reductions across Brazil, with arguments that higher productivity, not shorter hours, drives economic strength.

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