Brazil’s Senate approves constitutional amendment to reduce weekly working hours

13:45

By: Azzat Manal

Brazil’s Senate approves constitutional amendment to reduce weekly working hours

Brazil’s Senate has approved a constitutional amendment aimed at reducing the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours without cutting existing wages, marking a significant development in the country’s labour policy. The measure passed on Wednesday with overwhelming support, receiving 75 votes in favour and one against in a chamber of 81 members. The same result was recorded in two rounds of voting.

The decision comes at a politically sensitive moment ahead of the second round of Brazil’s presidential election, scheduled for October 25, in which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is competing against Flávio Bolsonaro. Lula has backed the proposed reduction, presenting it as a measure intended to improve workers’ quality of life while preserving their income.

Former vice president Hamilton Mourão was reportedly the only senator to vote against the amendment. In a notable shift, Flávio Bolsonaro supported the initiative remotely while campaigning in southern Brazil, despite having expressed opposition earlier in the week. Analysts and political observers suggested that support from his allies in the Senate may have helped him avoid appearing to obstruct a proposal with broad public appeal. The vote nevertheless highlights how labour policy has become part of the wider political contest.

Under the amendment, businesses would receive a 14-month transition period to implement the shorter working week. The timeframe represents a compromise between advocates of rapid implementation and business representatives and lawmakers who had called for a much longer adjustment period, potentially extending to 10 years.

The proposed changes would also guarantee workers two days off each week. According to estimates from the Brazilian government, more than 37 million employees across different sectors could benefit from the new rules. Supporters argue that reducing working hours without lowering wages could improve work-life balance and employee well-being, while the transition period is intended to give employers time to reorganise schedules and operations.

Lula welcomed the Senate’s decision, and the government is expected to formalise the measure in the following week. Once the remaining legal steps are completed, the transition period would begin, allowing employers to prepare for the new working-time limits.

The reform marks a major step in Brazil’s ongoing debate over working conditions, productivity and the balance between economic competitiveness and workers’ rights. Its implementation will depend on how businesses adapt to the new requirements and how the government oversees the transition across the country’s diverse labour market.