Business · Economy · 7 hrs ago
14.8 Million Brazilian Formal Jobs Use the 6x1 Work Schedule
Brazil’s Congress promulgated an amendment ending the 6x1 work schedule on Friday.
The schedule means working six days and resting one day each week.
In December 2025, 14.8 million formal jobs used the schedule, equal to 29.9% of Brazil’s registered jobs.
The amendment provides for a five-day workweek with two paid days off, without a salary cut.
Some activities may continue to have different arrangements, and the impact is likely to vary across sectors.
The weekly hours limit will fall from 44 to 42, then to 40, while the change takes effect.
The 42-hour limit begins 60 days after promulgation and publication, and the limit falls to 40 hours after another 12 months.
Brazil had 14.8 million formal jobs on the six-days-on, one-day-off schedule in December 2025, according to an analysis of government data.
That was 29.9% of the country’s 49.5 million formal employment relationships at the time.
Congress promulgated a constitutional amendment ending the 6x1 schedule on October 16, 2026.
The amendment provides for a 5x2 schedule, with two paid rest days a week and no salary reduction.
It also reduces the maximum workweek from 44 hours to 42 hours, then to 40 hours.
- Who
- Brazil’s formal workers; the data were analyzed by economist Bruno Imaizumi of consultancy 4intelligence.
- What
- An analysis found 14.8 million formal jobs used the 6x1 schedule. Congress promulgated an amendment ending that schedule.
- When
- The employment figures are for December 2025. Congress promulgated the amendment on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- The sources do not state why Congress enacted the amendment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brazil had 14.8 million formal jobs on the 6x1 schedule, representing 29.9% of formal employment relationships.
Congress promulgated the constitutional amendment ending the 6x1 schedule.
The new schedule is due to take effect, with the maximum workweek reduced to 42 hours.
The maximum workweek is due to fall from 42 hours to 40 hours.
- Formal jobs on 6x1
- 14.8 million
- Share of formal employment
- 29.9% of 49.5 million in December 2025
- Highest reported sector share
- Air transport: 53.2%
- Lowest reported sector share
- Electricity and gas: 11.8%
- New weekly schedule
- 5x2, with two paid rest days and no salary reduction
- Workweek reduction
- From 44 hours to 42, then to 40
What people are saying
The effects are complex and heterogeneous. It is difficult to standardize a situation that is very different between sectors.
Air transport, for example, is a highly formalized sector. It will probably need more jobs to compensate for fewer hours worked and, consequently, pass costs on to prices. More jobs and more inflation.