In brief
Brazil’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment that will reduce the legal work week from 44 to 40 hours while guaranteeing two paid days off for all workers. The reform, championed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is expected to benefit more than 30 million employees and could give the left‑wing candidate a decisive edge in the October run‑off. Opposition views the change as a cost‑raising gamble, but supporters argue that better‑rested workers will be more productive and that the extra free time will improve well‑being. The legislation will be phased in, beginning with a 42‑hour week after a two‑month grace period, and will fully take effect over the next year. The decision follows a well‑publicised campaign by trade unions and citizen groups in the run‑up to the election.
Brazil’s Congress approved a constitutional amendment that will cut the working week from 44 hours to 40 and give employees two days off per week without reducing their salary. The change represents the biggest overhaul of workers’ rights since the country’s return to democracy in 1988.
Senators passed the amendment—championed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—just weeks before the second round of the presidential election. Lula’s supporters believe the reform will boost his chances against right‑wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro in the October run‑off by appealing to the country’s 30‑million‑plus workforce.
A nationwide poll found almost 70 % of Brazilians backed the shorter work week, showing widespread public support. The measure had already cleared the lower house in May; the Senate now backed it by a 75‑to‑1 margin, with Bolsonaro shifting from opposition to endorsement after acknowledging its popularity.
Critics warn that a higher working burden could raise production costs and, ultimately, consumer prices. Supporters argue that the extra days off will allow workers to rest, reducing fatigue and boosting productivity during the remaining hours of work.
Implementation will be phased: the working week will first be cut to 42 hours after a two‑month grace period and then to 40 hours at a later stage. The full effect of the reform will take more than a year to realise, but many congratulate the change now, already citing personal benefits.
Luciana de Almeida, a 36‑year‑old supermarket cashier in Rio de Janeiro, said the reform will “make a lot of difference” to her life. She explained that her only day off had previously been devoted to household chores, leaving little time for her three daughters. “I need time with my girls, leisure, or simply rest at home,” she told BBC Brasil.
