Brazil Cuts Working Week to 40 Hours, Aims to Bolster Lula Ahead of Election

Brazil's congress has passed a constitutional amendment to shorten the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours, a decision that could benefit as many as 30 million workers. The legislation also bans six-day workweeks, affecting 16 million Brazilians currently on such schedules. This development is seen as a potential political advantage for Left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who faces a presidential runoff election in nine days.

The new rules are expected to primarily impact low-paid workers in sectors like retail, restaurants, and hotels. Lula has seen a decline in support from this demographic since his 2022 election victory over Jair Bolsonaro. His opponent in the upcoming runoff is Jair Bolsonaro's son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

While President Lula has long supported the working week amendment, Flávio Bolsonaro initially opposed it before reversing his stance recently. Following the amendment's passage, Lula posted on social media, stating, "Ending the 6x1 schedule is about more than changing working hours. It means more time to live, rest, be with family, watch your children grow up, look after yourself and enjoy life."

The changes will not take effect immediately. After the Senate president promulgates the amendment, there will be a 60-day period before the abolition of six-day workweeks. The maximum working week will decrease to 42 hours after this period, and then to 40 hours after an additional 14 months.

Despite the phased implementation, the prospect of shorter workweeks has been met with relief. One saleswoman, Lilian Cristo dos Santos, shared her experience of having only one day off per week, limiting her time for personal care, appointments, and rest. "There’s no time to go to the doctor, to the beach, to the salon, to look after myself; I wanted to have time to study and I can’t. On my only day off, I have to clean the house and look after my family," she told The Guardian.

Recent polls indicate a tightening race between Lula and his conservative rival, Jair Bolsonaro. A Datafolha poll released on Thursday showed the candidates in a statistical tie, with Bolsonaro at 51% and Lula at 49%, within the margin of error. This represents a narrowing of the gap from the previous week, when the same firm had Bolsonaro at 52% and Lula at 48%. Another poll by Quaest on Wednesday also showed Bolsonaro leading Lula 51% to 49%.

Lula has been increasing his social media presence and announcing social measures in an effort to rebound his campaign following Bolsonaro's surprise first-round victory on October 4, where Bolsonaro secured 47% of the vote to Lula's 45%.