Brazil Shortens Working Week to 40 Hours Ahead of Presidential Runoff
A constitutional amendment passed by Brazil's congress reduces the maximum workweek, potentially impacting 30 million workers and offering a political boost to President Lula da Silva.
Brazil has officially shortened its maximum working week to 40 hours, a legislative change that could influence up to 30 million workers and potentially provide a political advantage to Left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of a crucial presidential runoff election. The amendment to Brazil's constitution, passed through the country's congress, also prohibits six-day workweeks, a schedule currently observed by 16 million Brazilians.
The new regulations are anticipated to primarily affect low-paid workers in sectors such as retail, restaurants, and hotels. This demographic saw a shift in support away from Lula da Silva since the 2022 election, in which he narrowly defeated Jair Bolsonaro.
President Lula da Silva is facing a runoff against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula da Silva has long advocated for the working week amendment, Flávio Bolsonaro initially opposed it for several months before reversing his stance earlier this week.
Following the amendment's approval, Lula da Silva stated on social media that ending the six-day work schedule is about more than just working hours. He emphasized that it represents "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 until after the runoff election scheduled for October 25. Once the Senate president promulgates the amendment, there will be a 60-day period before six-day workweeks are abolished. The reduction in the maximum working week will occur in stages: from 44 to 42 hours after the promulgation, and then down to 40 hours after an additional 14 months.
Despite the phased implementation, the changes have been met with relief by many Brazilians. Lilian Cristo dos Santos, a 50-year-old saleswoman from Salvador, Bahia, who currently has only one day off per week, expressed that the new limits will offer much-needed personal time. "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 polling indicates a tightening race between Lula da Silva and his conservative rival. A Datafolha poll released on Thursday showed the candidates in a statistical tie, with Bolsonaro at 51 percent of the vote and Lula da Silva at 49 percent, within the poll's two-percentage-point margin of error. This represents a slight shift from the previous week's poll, which showed Bolsonaro leading 52 percent to 48 percent.
Bolsonaro secured a surprise victory in the first round of the election on October 4, garnering 47 percent of the vote compared to Lula da Silva's 45 percent. Lula da Silva has been working to regain momentum by increasing his social media presence and announcing various social measures aimed at appealing to voters.