Brazil's Congress Approves Shorter Working Week Ahead of Presidential Runoff
A constitutional amendment reducing the workweek from 44 to 40 hours is seen as a boost for President Lula's reelection campaign.
Brazil's Congress has approved a constitutional amendment that will shorten the workweek from 44 to 40 hours, granting employees two days off without a reduction in salary. This significant overhaul to workers' rights, the most substantial since Brazil's return to democracy in 1988, was championed by left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The amendment's passage in the Senate, with a near-unanimous vote of 75 to one, comes less than two weeks before the presidential election runoff. Lula's supporters hope the measure, which is expected to benefit over 30 million workers, will enhance his chances against right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, secured 47% of the vote in the first round, narrowly ahead of Lula's 45.2%, necessitating a second round.
Opinion polls indicate the proposal is highly popular, with nearly 70% of Brazilians reportedly in favor. The measure had previously passed the Chamber of Deputies, Brazil's lower house, in May. Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator himself, reversed his earlier opposition to the amendment, citing its popularity. He stated, "Most Brazilian workers want to see the end of the six-day workweek, so I'm going to vote in favor of ending it." He had previously characterized the proposal as an "opportunistic" electoral tactic by Lula.
Lula described Bolsonaro's policy shift as "electoral opportunism" and celebrated the amendment's approval, emphasizing its potential to improve workers' lives by providing more time for rest, family, and personal pursuits.
Critics, however, have raised concerns that the change will increase production costs, potentially leading to higher consumer prices. Supporters counter that a better-rested workforce will result in increased productivity during working hours.
The implementation of the shorter workweek will be gradual. After a two-month grace period, the workweek will first be reduced to 42 hours, followed by a further reduction to 40 hours at a later stage. The full effects of the change are expected to take over a year to materialize, but many proponents are already celebrating the impending shift.