Overview
- The National Congress has promulgated Constitutional Amendment 141, formally abolishing the 6x1 regime that allowed six days on and one day off.
- The amendment guarantees two paid rest days per week and sets a phased reduction of the legal maximum weekly work hours from 44 to 40 while preserving wages.
- Implementation will follow an application calendar that begins in December 2026 and moves progressively toward the 40‑hour cap.
- A DIEESE analysis using IBGE 2025 data estimates about 26.8 million workers—roughly 22 million formal and 4.8 million informal—could benefit from the change.
- Sectors that rely on six-day schedules, such as commerce, hospitality and services, face staffing and scheduling costs, so the government is studying targeted aid like credit lines, training and modernization programs to help small firms adapt.