Brazil is actually moving toward a shorter workweek. A lot of Latin American countries are, and now Brazil is catching up. The lower house of Congress actually approved an amendment on Wednesday. It sets up a 40-hour, five-day workweek.
It’s tied to some big public support, especially ahead of the presidential elections in October. And President Lula? He was the one really pushing this thing, championing it repeatedly.
You have to look at the old setup first. Right now, Brazilians are working five eight-hour days, plus four hours on a sixth day. That’s forty-four hours a week. The new deal, this amendment, it basically wipes out that six-day structure. But here’s the kicker: they aren't cutting pay for at least 37 million workers. That’s huge.
And it’s not just about fewer hours. According to the report from the AP, they also guarantee two full 24-hour rest days every week. Preferably on Saturdays and Sundays. That feels like a real change.
Lawmakers were talking about the unfairness of it all. One guy, Paulo Pimenta, the government whip in the lower house, he said something pretty pointed during the vote. He argued that the people who worked Monday through Saturday were the ones who had to work the hardest and got paid the least. He pushed, "We need to be brave and do justice."
Not everyone aGreed, though. Some opposition lawmakers ultimately backed it, mostly because their constituents were really pushing. But there were still people voicing serious concerns.
Lawmaker Kim Kataguiri, for instance, he threw out a warning. He said, "I don’t care what this is. It’s election year. We need to be responsible." He pointed out the practical mess. He worried this would cause problems for companies. He added that they were rushing this change, and workers should understand that if business leaders decide to stop hiring, things could actually get worse for them than they are right now.
There was a big compromise built into it, which was pivotal for getting this through. To ease the business side, the amendment gives companies fourteen months to figure out how to adapt. That part, the gradual transition over ten years, that was a major fight point. Business leaders and some lawmakers were arguing for that slow burn.
Leo Prates, the lawmaker who actually drafted the amendment in the lower house, he framed it as a necessary move. He said it was built with responsibility, thinking about the workers and families in Brazil. He really wanted to emphasize that they needed to accomplish this for the Brazilian people.
Now, the process isn't over. The lower house got its stamp of approval. But it still has to go to the Senate. They haven't scheduled a vote yet. That means things could change before it even gets to Lula for final sign-off and inclusion in the constitution. It’s still hanging there.
Meanwhile, there’s this alternative floating around. Lula’s main rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, he put forward a different model entirely. It’s about moving away from fixed hours and into a payment-by-the-hour system. That approach, it’s found some traction among business leaders, at least. It seems to appeal to that side.
Brazil isn’t alone in this push. It mirrors what’s happening across Latin America. Think about Mexico. Back in February, Mexican lawmakers approved a proposal from President Claudia Sheinbaum. They aimed to cut the 48-hour workweek, planning to gradually get down to 40 hours by 2030.
Chile went there a bit sooner, though. They passed their own 40-Hour Law in 2023. They reduced the standard workweek to 40 hours for everyone covered by the Labour Code, effective last year. And they managed it without touching pay. That’s a different kind of move, a very clean cut.
Argentina, though, is taking a totally different route. Under President Javier Milei, they’re pushing things in a different direction. They’re looking at a labour overhaul package approved earlier this year. This package raises the maximum workday from eight hours up to twelve, and it eliminates overtime pay. Labor unions are saying these moves favor the companies way more than the employees. It’s a messy picture across the continent, isn't it? A lot of different speeds.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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