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A new proposal to reduce working hours without salary cuts has generated a lot of expectation and placed employers and workers on opposite sides of an intense debate.
O Bill (PL) 1105/2023, authored by Senator Weverton (PDT-MA), aims to transform the labor market by reducing the weekly working day to four days, maintaining the full salary.
According to the proposal, this change can only be implemented through collective agreements or collective agreements, eliminating the possibility of individual agreements, as suggested by rapporteur Paulo Paim (PT-RS).
The Social Affairs Committee (CAS) has already approved the project, but it will still go through debates in the Senate plenary, facing a series of amendments.
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International context and the relevance of change
A reduction of working hours of work is not a new idea. In countries like France, Germany e Spain, this concept has already been adopted or is under discussion, always with the focus on improving the quality of life of workers.
According to Paulo Paim, this change in Brazil would be an attempt to align the country with a world trend to seek a greater balance between personal and professional life, without compromising productivity.
According to Dieese (Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies), Brazil was already in a position, since 2010, to adopt this policy.
According to studies by the entity, the salary cost in Brazil it is relatively low in relation to total production, which would reduce the working day viable, without having to cut salaries.
This justification gains even more weight when considering the positive impact that this change could bring to the worker welfare.
The scenario in Brazil: Inequality and the impact on productivity
A last big change na working day in Brazil it happened with the 1988 Constitution, when the working hours were set at 44 hours per week.
Since then, the country's economy has gone through several technological transformations, enabling a redistribution of productivity gains.
However, the data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reveal that the share of wages in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 12,9% between 2016 and 2021, marking the worst performance in 16 years.
As wages lose momentum, the corporate profit continues to rise. In the same period, the gross operating surplus of companies grew 16%, as pointed out by the sociologist Adriana Marcolino, from Dieese.
For her, the reduction of working hours without reducing wages it would be a fair way to redistribute these gains productivity, benefiting not only workers but also the economy as a whole.
Health and quality of life at stake
In addition to the economic aspects, the reduction of working hours no loss of salary would bring significant benefits to health and wellness of the workers.
The doctor Maria Maeno, Fundacentro, explains that long working hours are directly associated with an increase in the number of occupational diseases e work accidents.
According to her, by working fewer hours per week, workers would have more time to rest, take care of your health and dedicate yourself to your personal life.
Data Unified Health System (SUS) indicate that, between 2007 and 2022, there were registered almost three million cases of work-related illnesses, such as repetitive strain injuries and accidents. These numbers may be even higher, since many services provided in private health networks are not counted.
International experiences and the Brazilian model
The idea of a four day work week has already been successfully tested in several countries. In the United Kingdom, 61 companies joined the model in 2023, and the results were impressive: 39% of workers reported less stress, 79% noticed a reduction in burnout symptoms, and 54% said they were able to balance better personal and professional life.
In Brazil, organization 4 Day Week Brazil is following a pilot project with 22 companies that adopted the “100-80-100” rule: employees work 80% of the time, receive 100% of salary and deliver 100% productivity.
According to the organization, preliminary results indicate significant improvements na attendance and mental health of the workers.
The challenges ahead in reducing working hours
Although the project has broad support in some sectors, such as Minister of Labor, Luiz Marinho, the proposal faces a strong resistance of entrepreneurs.
Many fear that, even with the reduction in working hours, maintaining same productivity may compromise the profits and competitiveness of companies.
As pointed out Clemente Ganz Lucio, technical advisor to the Trade Unions, this requirement of maintain productivity at 100% is the main obstacle in negotiations.
Furthermore, the impact of automation and new technologies on the labor market is an issue that cannot be ignored.
Studies indicate that among 40% and 60% of job vacancies will be affected in the next ten years due to automation, making reduced hours a urgent need to face the changes that are coming.
Reduction in working hours: an uncertain but promising future
The debate about the reduction of working hours promises to remain in Brazil for the next few months, generating controversies and heated discussions.
While some argue that this change would bring benefits for all involved, others fear that it could harm the productivity and competitiveness in the country.
And you, reader? Do you think Brazil should have laws reducing the working hours of Brazilians? Leave your opinion in the comments!
