Overview
- Lawmakers on the Chamber’s Constitution and Justice Committee approved admissibility on Wednesday in a symbolic vote, sending the proposal to a special panel that will debate the substance.
- The two constitutional amendments travel together but differ in scope, with Erika Hilton’s text setting a 36‑hour, four‑days‑on and three‑days‑off week within about 360 days and Reginaldo Lopes’ version moving to 36 hours over ten years.
- The federal government has a separate bill under constitutional urgency to set a 40‑hour, five‑days‑on and two‑days‑off week, which can force a vote within 45 days and could shape a compromise in the Chamber.
- Rapporteur Paulo Azi backed the proposals’ legality and urged transition rules and possible offsets for employers, while Speaker Hugo Motta says he aims for a floor vote by the end of May that would require 308 votes in two rounds before the Senate reviews it.
- Business groups warn of higher costs, citing a Fecomércio estimate of R$158 billion in payroll impact and Ipea scenarios of about 7.8% higher labor costs for a 40‑hour 5×2 and roughly 17.6% for a 36‑hour 4×3, as supporters argue the change would protect workers’ health and family time.