Brazil Approves 40-Hour, Five-Day Workweek In Major Labour Reform

Last Updated:May 28, 2026, 10:30 IST

Brazil’s lower house backs Lula’s plan for a 40 hour five day workweek with no pay cuts, giving firms 14 months to adapt, the amendment now moves to the Senate

Brazil is set to join a growing number of Latin American countries cutting working hours, after the lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment to establish a 40-hour, five-day workweek.

The proposal, which has gained strong public support ahead of October’s presidential elections, was sponsored and repeatedly championed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. It forms part of a broader regional push applauded by labour rights groups but sharply criticised by the business sector.

Under the current system, Brazilians typically work five eight-hour days plus four hours on a sixth day, totalling 44 hours a week. The approved amendment abolishes the six-day workweek without reducing pay for at least 37 million workers and sets a maximum of 40 working hours per week.

The measure also guarantees two consecutive 24-hour rest days each week, preferably on Saturdays and Sundays.

“People who have this workweek from Monday to Saturday are the ones that have to work the hardest and are paid the least," said lawmaker Paulo Pimenta, the government whip in the lower house, during the vote. “We need to be brave and do justice."

Many opposition lawmakers ultimately backed the proposal, citing sustained pressure from their constituents, though some continued to voice concerns.

“I don’t care this is an election year. I think we need to be responsible. This will be a problem for many companies," said lawmaker Kim Kataguiri. “We are doing this in a rush and workers should know they might end up worse than they are now if business leaders stop hiring."

To address business concerns, the amendment grants companies 14 months to adapt to the new rules, a compromise that proved pivotal in negotiations. Many business leaders and some lawmakers had argued for a gradual transition over 10 years.

“This was built with a lot of responsibility, thinking about workers and families in Brazil," said lawmaker Leo Prates, who drafted the amendment in the lower house. “We need to accomplish this for the Brazilian people."

With the lower house’s approval, the amendment now moves to the Senate, which has yet to schedule a vote and could introduce changes before the proposal is sent to Lula for final approval and inclusion in the constitution.

Lula’s main rival in the upcoming election, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, has put forward an alternative model that would replace the current workweek structure with a more flexible payment-by-the-hour system. That approach has so far found favour mainly among business leaders.

Brazil’s move mirrors recent developments elsewhere in Latin America. In February, Mexican lawmakers approved President Claudia Sheinbaum’s proposal to reduce the 48-hour workweek, with hours to be gradually cut to 40 by 2030.

Chile, meanwhile, passed its so-called 40-Hour Law in 2023, reducing the standard workweek to 40 hours as of last year for all workers covered by the country’s Labour Code, without any pay cuts.

Argentina, however, has taken a different path under libertarian President Javier Milei and may extend its 48-hour workweek. A labour overhaul package approved earlier this year raises the maximum workday from eight to 12 hours and eliminates overtime pay, among other measures that labour unions say favour companies over employees.

News world Brazil Approves 40-Hour, Five-Day Workweek In Major Labour Reform

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