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The Initial Approval of PEC 148/2025 in the Senate Intensified Discussions on Working Hours, Union Negotiation, and Economic Effects, While Opinion Data Shows Public Support for Change.
A relevant change in the organization of work entered the center of the national debate in December 2025, following legislative progress in the Federal Senate.
The Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) approved, on December 10, 2025, the Proposed Constitutional Amendment 148/2025, which proposes the end of the 6×1 shift and the adoption of the 5×2 shift, with two consecutive days off.
This legislative movement reorganized expectations in the labor market and provoked immediate reactions from companies, unions, and representatives of the federal government.
At the same time, the issue began to be addressed as a possible structural change in the weekly working hours, with no forecast for a salary reduction.
Public Support Reveals Positive Perception About Reducing Working Hours
While the institutional debate advanced, public opinion data indicated social backing for the proposal.
Research by Nexus, released in April 2025, pointed out that the extinction of the 6×1 shift has more supporters than opponents in all regions of the country.
The Northeast appears as the most favorable region, with 74% support, while the South records the lowest index, yet still majority, with 56%.
Additionally, 59% of respondents in the Southeast stated they believe that fewer hours worked would increase productivity, followed by the Northeast, with 56%, above the national average of 55%.
Business Entities Warn of Economic and Institutional Risks
Despite public support, representative institutions of the productive sector expressed concern about the possible effects of the change.
The National Confederation of Commerce (CNC) argued, in an official statement, that journey parameters should be defined by collective negotiation, respecting regional and sectoral specificities.
According to the entity, imposing rigid constitutional limits could weaken union autonomy and reduce the adaptation capacity of companies and workers.
In the same vein, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) stated it is monitoring the debate on the reduction of the weekly workload from 44 to 40 hours, warning of impacts on industrial competitiveness and on formal job creation.
The CNI president, Ricardo Alban, declared that, although the debate is legitimate, the country is facing more urgent challenges, and the change could reduce the competitiveness of Brazilian industry.
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Studies Indicate Possible Impacts on GDP and Employment
With the advancement of the public discussion, economic surveys began to be released.
In April 2025, the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (Fiemg) estimated the risk of closing up to 18 million jobs in the country.
According to the entity, the change in working hours could compromise up to 16% of Gross Domestic Product, representing a drop of up to R$ 2.9 trillion in the revenue of productive sectors.
These numbers reinforced the business discourse of caution regarding the proposed structural change.
Unions Advocate for Correcting Historical Distortions
In contrast, the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT) has argued that reducing working hours without cutting salaries corrects historical problems in labor relations.
In a statement released in 2025, the entity argued that technological advancements have always eliminated jobs and that precariousness has marked the development of capitalism.
According to the CUT, the proposal represents a step toward reorganizing the balance between productivity, quality of life, and worker protection.
What the PEC Proposes and the Next Steps in Congress
Currently, the text approved in the CCJ of the Senate, on December 10, 2025, defines clear limits.
The proposal establishes up to eight hours daily and 36 hours weekly, distributed over up to five days.
Today, legislation allows for 44 hours weekly, with only one day off.
With the change, workers would have two days off, without salary reduction.
Now, the text depends on scheduling by the Senate president, Davi Alcolumbre, for voting in two rounds.
Subsequently, the proposal will go to the Chamber of Deputies, passing through the CCJ and the Plenary.
Government Associates the End of the 6×1 Shift with the Social Agenda
Finally, the federal government publicly expressed support for the proposal throughout 2025.
On December 2, 2025, the Minister of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann, defended the measure.
According to the minister, ending the 6×1 shift improves the quality of life for workers.
Additionally, the proposal was associated with the exemption from Income Tax for salaries of up to R$ 5,000.
In this way, the government included the change in a broad social agenda aimed at the labor market.
Given this scenario, how to balance quality of life, economic competitiveness, and fiscal control in the reorganization of working hours in Brazil?
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