Overview
- The Senate began formal semipresential plenary discussions on Tuesday for PEC 221/2019 with sessions scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 14:00 to fulfill the five required debate meetings before a first‑turn vote.
- The amendment would lower the constitutional weekly work limit from 44 to 40 hours, guarantee two paid weekly rest days, forbid salary cuts with the change, and phase the shift through 42 hours then 40 hours during transition periods.
- As a constitutional amendment the PEC needs three‑fifths support — 49 of 81 senators — in two separate voting rounds, and any substantive change by the Senate would force the text back to the Chamber of Deputies and delay finalization.
- Government negotiators including minister José Guimarães and Senate government leaders are urging a vote this week, while opposition senators and PL allies are organizing to deplete quorums and business groups such as CNI and FIESP are lobbying to slow or block rapid approval.
- If approved unchanged the change could be promulgated by Congress and affect roughly 14 million workers on 6x1 regimes; opponents warn of large economic costs, and the outcome could influence campaign messaging before the October runoff and Senate power dynamics ahead of the 2027 bench reshuffle.