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This initiative marks a pivotal moment in the debate on work hours, social impact, and economic responsibility.
Minister Guilherme Boulos declared this Tuesday that, with the end of the 6×1 shift, the government must ensure a transition for micro and small businesses — with support or tax relief — to preserve “the sustainability of the business” of these enterprises. The statement came amid the processing of the proposal aimed at reducing work hours and rethinking work formats in Brazil.
By focusing especially on small businesses, the government acknowledges that these structures play a central role in the national economy.
The 6×1 Shift and the Historical Evolution of Work Hours
The 6×1 shift — six days of work followed by one day off — has persisted in various sectors of the country for decades. Historically, it reflected the logic of intensive production and continuous labor demand, especially in smaller businesses, informal commerce, and essential services.
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However, over the years, the growing concern for health, quality of life, and equity has spurred debates on reducing work hours and improving working conditions.
As a result, the formal proposal for change recently arrived through PEC 8/2025, which seeks to abolish the 6×1 shift and establish a work week of up to 36 hours, possibly with four workdays per week.
In this way, the country revisits its model of production and work.
The Transition Proposal: Protecting Those Who Sustain the Local Economy
By acknowledging the need for a “transition” for micro and small businesses, Boulos points to a real challenge: these businesses have a lower capacity to absorb cost increases, extra hiring, or reorganize work hours without external support.
He stated that it will be necessary to define fiscal incentives or tax reliefs, or even create “a degree of compensation” to prevent the end of the 6×1 shift from breaking small businesses.
This concern indicates that the government intends to harmonize labor objectives and economic sustainability. In other words: reform the work hours, maintain the viability of businesses, and preserve jobs — especially in micro and small businesses, which account for a significant share of formal employment in Brazil.
Sustainability as a Core: Beyond Business, Life and Social Balance
When talking about sustainability, the meaning should not be restricted to the environment — it can and should encompass social and economic aspects.
In advocating for a transition with support, the government demonstrates that sustainability also involves economic justice, protection for small entrepreneurs, respect for the quality of life of workers, and job preservation.
Thus, the change in work hours can reduce burnout, improve health, and provide a better balance between work and personal life. This benefits families, reduces stress, and promotes social well-being — building a stronger foundation for consumption, productivity, and the local economy.
Additionally, by mitigating costs for small entrepreneurs, the proposal helps maintain businesses that might otherwise close due to the abrupt change in shifts. This preserves income, avoids unemployment, and protects the local economy.
Challenges and Required Adjustments: Planning, Regulation, and Gradual Transition
Even with good intentions, the end of the 6×1 shift and the transition proposal face significant challenges. For the process to work, careful planning and concrete support will be necessary.
First, it will be crucial to conduct fiscal and economic impact studies, as acknowledged by Boulos himself.
It will also be necessary to define clear support mechanisms: tax relief, incentives, tax flexibility, or financing for adjustments. Without this, many small businesses could be harmed — or abandon their operations.
Furthermore, it is essential to ensure that the change in work hours preserves productivity and competitiveness. This requires process adaptation, workforce planning, and possibly modernization of operations.
Finally, dialogue among the government, business owners, workers, and civil society will be essential.
The Role of Micro and Small Businesses for a Sustainable Brazil
Micro and small businesses form the backbone of the Brazilian economy. They create jobs, sustain local commerce, fuel the regional economy, and maintain business diversity.
Therefore, protecting this segment in labor reform is a direct investment in the economic sustainability of the country.
By ensuring that these businesses survive and thrive, creating conditions for adapting to the new work hours, the government strengthens the productive base. This improves income, secures jobs, and allows workers to have a better quality of life — essential conditions for sustainable and balanced development.
Paradigm Shift: Dignified Work, Strong Businesses, and Balanced Society
With the proposed transition at the end of the 6×1 shift, the government aims to build a new paradigm of relationship between work, businesses, and social well-being.
The change is not just legislative: it symbolizes a reorientation of priorities. By valuing those who produce on a small scale, protecting jobs, and offering humane working conditions, Brazil takes an important step toward a fairer — and more sustainable — economy.
Of course, the path requires care. But the proposal already shows that it is possible to unite social justice, economic responsibility, and long-term vision.
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