Senate vote

The Senate approved the proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) on Wednesday, 14 October, by 75 votes to one, passing both required rounds of voting in a single plenary session. The Chamber of Deputies had approved the same text in May without changes, so it can be promulgated without returning to the lower house, a step expected in the week of 19 October. The only senator to vote against was Hamilton Mourão of the Republicanos. The vote was hybrid, with some senators present in the chamber and others voting remotely, which allowed Flávio Bolsonaro to vote while on a campaign trip in Rio Grande do Sul. Senate president Davi Alcolumbre, of União Brasil, had accelerated the process after the 4 October general election.

What the amendment changes

The amendment ends the six-day working schedule, under which employees have only one rest day a week, and sets a five-day week with two days of rest. The maximum working week falls from 44 hours to 42 within 60 days of promulgation, and then to 40 hours about 14 months after promulgation. The changes apply to existing contracts with no cut in pay. Lula's government estimates that more than 37 million formal-sector workers could benefit from the reduction. Some employers and lawmakers had argued for a ten-year transition instead of the shorter timetable now approved.

Campaign and Flávio Bolsonaro

Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party (PL) candidate, had recently criticized the measure and proposed letting employers and employees negotiate schedules instead. On Tuesday, 13 October, after meeting his father Jair Bolsonaro, he reversed his opposition and announced he would back the amendment. He also said he would seek changes to the text if elected. Analysts and politicians cited by the Associated Press said Bolsonaro allies stopped blocking the measure to avoid electoral damage. In the first round of the presidential election on 4 October, Flávio took 47.03% of the vote to Lula's 45.16%, and neither reached the 50% of valid votes needed to avoid a run-off.

“Most Brazilian workers want to see the end of the six-day workweek, so I'm going to vote in favour of ending it.”

Lula, who called Bolsonaro's reversal electoral opportunism, celebrated the vote on social media. He wrote that the change would give workers more time for their lives and families.

“It means more time to live, rest, be with family, watch your children grow up, look after yourself and enjoy life.”

Flávio Bolsonaro47.03%

Lula da Silva45.16%

Flávio Bolsonaro

47.03 %

Lula da Silva

45.16 %

Data from the article text

Reactions and criticism

Large business associations and employers' unions in industry, commerce and services described the measure as bad for the economy and warned it would lead to layoffs and weaker essential services. Critics also argue that higher production costs would eventually be passed on to consumers as higher prices. Supporters counter that two days off a week lets workers rest better and spend more. One nationwide survey found that almost 70% of Brazilians backed the measure. Small business owners feel the pressure most directly. A 39-year-old owner of a grocery shop near Itapuã beach in Salvador, who ran it with five staff on six-day rotas, closed the business three months ago. He said he supported the measure but calculated that two extra hires would add at least R$6,000 in labour costs that he could not absorb.