Politics · Brazil · 6 hrs ago
Brazil government opposes a new constitutional change on 6x1 work rules
Brazil’s Congress has approved an amendment ending the six workdays, one rest day schedule, known as 6x1.
The change provides for two paid days off each week and cuts the standard workweek from 44 hours to 40.
The first stage begins on December 16, reducing weekly hours to 42, with the further cut due 12 months later.
Some jobs, including work in aviation, health care and agriculture, have different schedules that still need rules.
Government Senate leader Teresa Leitão says a complementary law can set those exceptions, rather than another constitutional amendment.
Senator Eduardo Braga is gathering support for a separate amendment to allow more flexibility, while the Labor Ministry is preparing a decree to guide the transition.
Brazil’s government opposes a proposed constitutional amendment to create exceptions to the end of the 6x1 work schedule.
Government leader in the Senate Teresa Leitão said a complementary law would be enough to regulate categories with special work arrangements.
Senator Eduardo Braga is gathering support for a separate amendment, arguing that flexibility is needed to limit economic risks.
The constitutional amendment ending the 6x1 schedule was promulgated on October 16.
Its first stage is due to take effect on December 16, giving workers two paid rest days a week and reducing working hours to 42 per week.
- Who
- The Brazilian government, represented by Senate government leader Teresa Leitão, opposes the proposal. Senator Eduardo Braga is seeking a separate amendment.
- What
- The government says exceptions to the end of the 6x1 work schedule should be regulated by complementary law, not a new constitutional amendment.
- When
- Leitão stated the government’s position on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil; the debate is taking place in the National Congress and Senate.
- Why
- The government says the existing amendment already provides for exceptions. Braga says flexibility is needed to mitigate economic risks and address categories with special work arrangements.
Brazilian government
Eduardo Braga
How to regulate exceptions
Brazilian government
A complementary law is sufficient to set rules for categories with special work arrangements.
Eduardo Braga
A separate constitutional amendment should establish specific rules and flexibility for those categories.
Reasoning
Brazilian government
The existing constitutional amendment already provides for exceptional cases.
Eduardo Braga
Flexibility could mitigate economic risks and address work arrangements in sectors such as commerce, logistics and health.
The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee approved ending the 6x1 schedule.
Congress promulgated the constitutional amendment ending the 6x1 schedule.
Teresa Leitão said the government considered a new constitutional amendment unnecessary.
The amendment’s first stage is due to take effect, granting two paid rest days a week and reducing weekly hours to 42.
- Current weekly hours
- 44 hours
- First-stage weekly hours
- 42 hours from December 16
- Later weekly hours
- 40 hours, 12 months after the first reduction
- Promulgation date
- October 16
- Government position
- Use a complementary law to regulate exceptions
- Proposed separate amendment
- Senator Eduardo Braga is gathering signatures
What people are saying
There is an issue in constitutional amendment 141 that says there are exceptions. So this is already addressed in the amendment itself, and will be the subject of a complementary law.
I will present a parallel amendment to the 6x1 amendment, ensuring the necessary flexibility to mitigate the economic risks this amendment carries.