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Lula Government Accelerates Bill Projects to End the 6×1 Shift and Implement the 5×2 Work Week with 40-Hour Weeks Starting in 2028.
What is at stake is a structural change in labor legislation: the end of the 6×1 shift, advocated by the Lula government, which has decided to present labor law bills to alter the work schedule in the country.
The person leading the coordination is the Minister of the General Secretariat, Guilherme Boulos, who will personally take the proposal to Congress.
The measure is now being processed in Brasília and aims to establish the 5×2 work week with 40-hour weeks, in a move that seeks to respond to the political and social pressures that emerged throughout 2024 and 2025.
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This initiative arises because the Planalto considers it urgent to correct the current model and meet the expectations of workers who have been waiting for changes for years.
Lula Government Decides to Accelerate Changes After Impasse in Subcommission
The Planalto has decided to act after the stalemate in the subcommittee responsible for discussing the end of the 6×1 shift.
According to the government, the proposal presented by rapporteur Luiz Gastão (PSD-CE) does not meet the central objective of the agenda.
Although Gastão’s text provides for a progressive reduction of working hours, it does not abolish the 6×1, which disappointed some members of the group.
Thus, the government opted to draft a parallel opinion, based on existing labor law projects, to reposition its prominence on the subject.
This strategy is part of an agenda that President Lula intends to showcase as a highlight for 2026.
Official Proposal Provides for Transition Until 2028
According to the new design, the transition to the 5×2 work week will be gradual.
The government wants to start in 2027 with a limit of 42 hours per week, until reaching 40 hours per week starting in 2028.
The proposal also includes eight-hour daily shifts, aligning the Brazilian standard with international practices.
In addition, the text reinforces a line of protection for workers by prohibiting wage reductions during the process.
It also prevents individual agreements that may relax rights, a practice that, according to government technicians, creates inequality in negotiations and weakens less organized categories.
More Rest: Two Consecutive Days Per Week
Another important aspect of the proposal is the increase in weekly rest. The government wants to guarantee two consecutive days, with at least one Sunday every three weeks.
This change, according to coordinators, meets the physical and emotional health demands of workers who accumulate long hours.
This alteration directly relates to the debate about quality of life, which has gained strength in recent years.
For the Planalto, measures like this reinforce the social relevance of the labor law projects being processed.
Reaction to Luiz Gastão’s Report
The government’s parallel opinion is a direct response to the actions of rapporteur Luiz Gastão.
The text drafted by Gastão provides for a reduction to 42 hours in the first year, 41 in the second, and 40 in the third, in addition to suggesting tax relief for companies with a high number of employees.
The intention is to compensate for costs and mitigate economic impacts.
However, the government believes that the report fails to address the core issue, which is precisely to abolish the 6×1 shift.
Thus, members of the Executive affirm that the expectation created in the subcommittee and in society has made it essential to present a clearer and more assertive alternative.
Boulos Takes Political Lead in the Chamber
Chosen by Lula, Guilherme Boulos will be responsible for publicly advocating for the Planalto’s opinion.
Boulos’s presence aims to strengthen the political discourse around the agenda and create a connection with social movements that have historically demanded fairer working conditions.
By assuming this role, the government seeks to consolidate support both inside and outside Congress, as well as accelerate the debate on adopting the 5×2 work week and the 40-hour work week.
Next Steps in Congress
The text is expected to mobilize intense negotiations in the coming weeks. The expectation is that with the direct involvement of the Lula government, the labor law projects will advance more swiftly.
Meanwhile, workers, unions, and businesses are watching cautiously. On one hand, there is optimism about the progress toward ending the 6×1 shift.
On the other hand, business sectors are already evaluating the economic and logistical impact of the changes.
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