Senate Approves Constitutional Change Ending Brazil’s 6x1 Work Schedule

Overview

• The Senate approved the PEC on Wednesday, Oct. 14, by 75 votes to 1, removing the 6x1 rota and reducing the statutory maximum weekly hours from 44 to 40 while guaranteeing two paid days of rest.
• The amendment prescribes a two-step transition that takes effect 60 days after promulgação with a move to 42 hours and then to 40 hours 12 months later.
• Senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro registered a remote yes vote after months of opposition, prompting union leaders to accuse him of opportunism and raising questions about his credibility.
• Senate President Davi Alcolumbre is expected to call a joint session to promulgate the PEC next week, a ceremony Lula’s team plans to use for campaign messaging.
• Business groups and parts of the PL back an alternative 'hourly work' model that could be advanced after the election, while social listening data showed more than one million online mentions with over 80% of AI‑classified messages favoring the reform.