Brazil Senate president Alcolumbre says 6x1 work‑scale amendment must go through committees

The constitutional amendment (PEC 221/2019) that was approved by the Chamber of Deputies to end the 6‑day‑on/1‑day‑off work schedule and reduce the weekly workweek from 44 to 40 hours is now awaiting action in the Senate. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União‑Brasil‑AP) stated that the proposal “has to pass through the commissions, at least the Commission of Constitution and Justice (CCJ), before reaching the plenary.” He emphasized a careful, unhurried debate, citing the need to hear workers, employers and other sectors. Alcolumbre announced a meeting with party leaders next week to set a timetable for the bill’s progression.

Government allies view the amendment as a flagship social measure for President Lula’s 2026 re‑election campaign, while Alcolumbre’s stance appears less tightly aligned with the executive, amid recent tensions over other Senate votes. The opposition has lodged an alternative PEC (12/2026) that keeps the 6×1 schedule and the 44‑hour week, led by Senator Rogério Marinho (PL‑RN) and supported by 41 senators. Both sides argue over the timing, especially because the country is in an election year, and Alcolumbre warned that “the Senate must not become a mere stamp‑in‑the‑book for the Chamber’s decisions.”