Brazil Weighs Faster Route to End 6x1 Workweek as Planalto Prepares Urgent Bill

Overview

• Chamber president Hugo Motta sent two constitutional amendment proposals to the Constitution and Justice Commission targeting the end of the 6x1 schedule.
• Erika Hilton’s text reduces the cap to 36 hours and limits the week to four working days, while Reginaldo Lopes originally proposed 36 hours over five days and has since signaled support for a 40-hour limit.
• According to reporting, President Lula intends to submit a separate urgent bill to accelerate a vote and turn the change into a campaign banner, a path that faces a 45‑day clock in each chamber rather than the supermajority and two rounds required for a PEC.
• A new Ipea technical note estimates the average hourly cost would rise 17.57% under a 36‑hour week and 7.84% under 40 hours, while acknowledging data gaps and calling for more empirical studies.
• Government economic advisers see the proposal as politically viable this semester yet push for a negotiated text with transition periods and sectoral tailoring, as industry groups warn of layoffs, reduced output and greater informality, especially in labor‑intensive and very small firms.