Senate Approves End to 6x1 Work Scale, Sends PEC for Promulgation

Overview

• Senators approved the constitutional amendment by 75 votes to 1 on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and the text has been transmitted to the congressional mesas for promulgação so it can be formalized in the coming days.
• The PEC sets a staged reduction of the legal weekly limit from 44 hours to 42 hours 60 days after promulgação and to 40 hours 14 months after promulgação, guarantees two paid days of rest per week and forbids salary cuts during the transition.
• The vote became a campaign flashpoint as President Lula hailed the change for formal workers while Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — who had opposed the measure — registered a late yes vote from Porto Alegre and his allies signaled plans to press alternative proposals after the election.
• The text preserves flexibility for sectors that require continuous service, allowing special schedules such as 12x36 to be regulated or set by collective bargaining, but many informal workers, MEIs and contractors outside CLT rules will not directly gain the new guarantees.
• Opponents complained the debate was rushed and several PL-aligned senators abstained or did not vote, and PL leaders have said they will push a separate 'hours worked' model or other legislative adjustments if they regain influence after the vote.