Overview
- The Chamber of Deputies approved the constitutional amendment on May 28, 2026, passing the two required floor votes by large margins of 472–22 and 461–19.
- The text must be ratified by the Federal Senate before becoming law, and senators will decide whether to accept the exact wording approved by deputies.
- The draft sets entry into force 60 days after official publication, moves the week from 44 to 42 hours initially and then to 40 hours later, and provides transition windows for companies reported as lasting up to 14 months while promising no salary cuts.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is pushing to fast-track Senate debate and to make the reform a key plank of his October 2026 re-election campaign, a move that raises the political stakes for upper‑house consideration.
- Supporters say the change will give workers regular two-day weekends and improve work–life balance, while industry groups such as CNI, CNC and FIESP warn of higher costs and plan to use Senate procedures to seek delays, leaving collective bargaining and transition rules to shape how firms adapt.