Brazilian Senate continues debate on five-day working week
The Senate is planning a vote on a constitutional amendment that would shorten the working week from 44 to 40 hours.
The Brazilian Senate has begun considering a proposal to abolish the six-day working week. A first-round vote may take place on 15 October, after five compulsory days of debate.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre announced on Tuesday that the Senate had scheduled several sessions to consider the so-called 6x1 system: six days of work and one day of rest. The proposal would reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours and give employees the right to two days of rest per week.
The Senate began on 6 October with the first of five debate sessions that, under its rules, must precede a vote. If the debate proceeds as planned, the first vote could take place next week. No final decision has therefore yet been taken.
The constitutional amendment was already approved by the Senate’s constitutional committee in September. Twenty-seven senators were present at that vote; four voted against. The text must then still be approved by the full Senate in two rounds of voting.
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has also previously considered a similar proposal. Supporters say that two fixed days of rest could improve health, family life and productivity. Opponents warn that companies could face higher staffing costs, which could put prices or employment under pressure.
The discussion is relevant to sectors in which employees are often scheduled for six days, such as shops, hospitality, transport and services. The precise effects will depend on the transitional arrangements, exemptions and the way employers adjust their timetables.
For Dutch readers, it is particularly important that this does not concern the immediate general introduction of a five-day working week. It is a proposal in the Brazilian parliament. The Senate still has to vote, after which further constitutional steps would be required.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Brazil’s parliament is discussing a constitutional amendment concerning the 6x1 working week.
- The proposal would reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours and provide for two days of rest.
- The Senate still has to vote; implementation is not certain.
Left
Arguments A five-day working week without loss of pay protects employees from exhaustion and gives people, particularly those in low-paid sectors, more time for family and recovery. From this perspective, the productivity gains and improved health outweigh the additional costs for employers.
Values Workers’ rights, financial security, health and equality.
Consequences Employees may get more rest, but companies may pass on higher wage costs or need additional staff.
Centre
Arguments The reform may be desirable, but it must be made workable through a transitional period, sectoral exemptions and reliable monitoring. The centre places emphasis on both social goals and the capacity of small businesses to cope.
Values Balance, predictability and institutional feasibility.
Consequences A gradual introduction could limit shocks, but would make the improvement for employees less quickly visible.
Right
Arguments The government should be cautious about imposing a uniform scheduling rule across all sectors. From this perspective, employers and employees can make better arrangements by sector or through collective agreements, because hospitality, care, industry and shops have different working hours.
Values Freedom of enterprise, flexibility and the responsibility of the social partners.
Consequences Greater flexibility could protect jobs and services, but employees might consequently remain dependent for longer on unequal bargaining power.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The progress in the Senate and the proposed 40-hour working week have been confirmed by Senate sources and Agência Brasil. The text explicitly presents the possible voting date and consequences as provisional.
- confirmed The Senate began debating the PEC to end the 6x1 working week on 6 October. — Senado Federal describes the first of five debate sessions. source
- confirmed The possible first vote is around 15 October. — Agência Brasil describes this as a possible date after the five days of debate. source
- confirmed The proposal would reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours and provide for two days of rest. — The content is set out in the Senate’s description of PEC 221/2019. source
- confirmed The constitutional committee approved the proposal in September. — Senado Federal reports the approval by the CCJ and that two plenary votes are still required. source
Editor's note
The Senate has formally opened the debate, but the proposed working week is not yet law. The date of 15 October is a possible first vote, not a settled decision.Sources
- Alcolumbre anuncia sessões para discutir e votar fim da escala 6x1 — Agência Brasil
- Plenário inicia discussão da PEC que acaba com a escala 6X1 — Senado Federal
- Fim da escala 6x1 passa na CCJ e vai a Plenário — Senado Federal
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „brazilië senaat”
- AD — „brazilië senaat”
- de Volkskrant — „brazilië senaat”