Senate Sets Oct. 14 Vote to End 6x1 Work Scale

Overview

• Senate President Davi Alcolumbre scheduled a first-turn vote for Wednesday, October 14, after arranging two remaining debate sessions to complete the first phase of consideration.
• PEC 221 would abolish the 6x1 schedule, forbid salary reductions, and cut the legal weekly cap from 44 to 42 hours two months after promulgation and to 40 hours 14 months after promulgation.
• The measure has become a campaign flashpoint between President Lula, who champions the change, and Flávio Bolsonaro and parts of the PL, whose campaign team has recommended abstention even as party leaders say they will free their senators to vote.
• Senators must secure 49 votes in each of two separate roll-call turnos and may approve a special calendar to shorten interstices, but any plenary changes to the PEC’s wording would force it back to the Chamber of Deputies and likely delay final approval past October 25.
• If the Senate approves the text already passed by the Chamber and both turnos are completed without changes, the amendment would be promulgated and the first reduction to a 42-hour week would take effect two months after publication, with collective agreements allowed to organize schedules.