Brazil’s 6x1 Workweek Nears Overhaul as Senate Panel Advances Phased 36-Hour Week

Overview

• The Senate’s Constitution and Justice Commission approved a constitutional amendment to phase the weekly limit down by one hour per year to 36 hours, set a maximum of five workdays with two consecutive days of rest, and keep the eight-hour daily cap.
• The measure now awaits a Senate plenary vote before proceeding to the Chamber of Deputies and ultimately presidential sanction or veto if it clears Congress.
• Government officials say a quicker path is preferred if legally viable, and they set three non‑negotiables for any vehicle: a 5x2 schedule limit, a weekly cap no higher than 40 hours, and implementation without pay cuts.
• Competing texts in the Chamber range from a four‑day, 36‑hour model to proposals for a gradual shift to 40 hours with transition rules and relief for smaller firms, leaving the final scope and instrument still in dispute.
• Senator Paulo Paim, the PEC’s author, is pressing for congressional approval in 2026 with implementation starting in 2027, as business groups warn of costs and potential job losses and polling shows broad public support for ending 6x1.