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In a historic initiative, Deputy Erika Hilton presented a proposal that aims to abolish the exhausting 6×1 schedule, proposing a four-day workweek. The measure promises to revolutionize labor relations in Brazil.
The traditional work model in Brazil may be nearing its end.
A new Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) seeks to end the 6×1 schedule, a regime that has sparked debates among workers, employers, and labor relations specialists for years.
The initiative, which has been gaining traction both inside and outside Congress, could completely change the daily lives of millions of Brazilians and profoundly alter the dynamics of the job market in the country.
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The labor shortage has changed its face in Brazil: companies hire 80% more, but workers stay only 6.8 months in the job, the service market becomes a “revolving door,” and businesses spend increasingly more to train teams that soon leave.
Federal Deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-RJ) filed the PEC this Tuesday (25) in the Chamber of Deputies, gathering 234 signatures, a number that exceeds the minimum required by 63 to present a constitutional amendment proposal.
The text proposes a four-day workweek, with a limit of 36 hours per week, bringing a new model that has already been tested in other countries.
Mobilization and Political Support
The proposal did not come from nowhere. Months of coordination and debates were necessary to consolidate the text and ensure the support of different parliamentarians.
According to Erika Hilton, there were numerous conversations with colleagues in Congress and social mobilizations to reach this moment.
During a press conference, the deputy argued that the 6×1 schedule is outdated and needs to be rethought.
“There are already political and economic indications showing that there is indeed a possibility to rethink this work schedule, as has been done in other places around the world, applying it to our reality,” the parliamentarian stated.
With the proposal filed, the next step is to discuss the project’s viability with the President of the Chamber, Deputy Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB).
Hilton plans to meet with him after Carnival to deliver a petition that already has nearly 3 million signatures in favor of the change in the work schedule.
“Now it remains to be seen if the National Congress will have political interest and responsibility for the lives of Brazilian workers. We need to ensure that this text gets a rapporteur and that the special committee is established so that this debate can progress,” declared the deputy.
Erika Hilton emphasized that support for the proposal is not limited to left-wing parliamentarians.
According to her, there is significant support from centrist and right-wing parties, dismantling the idea that only the left is mobilized on this issue.
However, the deputy revealed that two parliamentarians from the Liberal Party (PL) signed the PEC but were advised to withdraw their support.
What Changes with the New PEC?
If approved, the PEC will amend item XII of article 7 of the Federal Constitution, which will be rephrased as follows:
“Normal work duration shall not exceed eight hours a day and thirty-six hours a week, with work schedules of four days a week, allowing for hour compensation and reduction of hours, by agreement or collective labor convention.”
The proposal seeks to guarantee more free time for workers without affecting their remuneration.
The measure has already been tested in countries like Iceland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where companies reported increased productivity and improved employee well-being.
A Growing Movement for Change
The idea of reducing the workweek is not new but has been gaining momentum recently, propelled by the Life Beyond Work Movement (VAT), led by Rio de Janeiro councilman Rick Azevedo (PSOL).
The group has been promoting protests and demonstrations to end the 6×1 schedule.
“The market laments the ‘lack of labor,’ but does not want to admit the obvious: people are tired of being pack animals. The 6×1 schedule destroys health, robs life time, and pays poorly. No one wants to get sick to enrich their boss,” Azevedo declared on social media.
The councilman also called for a national protest on May 2, asking workers to stay home as a form of protest against the 6×1 work schedule.
Challenges and Business Resistance
Despite popular support and some backing from Congress, the proposal faces resistance from employers’ organizations.
The National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC) argues that the measure may increase companies’ operational costs, impacting the market and job generation.
Experts also disagree on the impacts of the change.
For some economists, reducing the workweek could stimulate the market, creating more jobs and improving workers’ quality of life.
For others, it might lead to overload on working days and affect sectors that rely on longer shifts, such as industry and commerce.
The Next Steps in Congress with the PEC
For the PEC to advance in the Chamber of Deputies, 308 favorable votes are needed in two rounds of voting.
Currently, Deputy Erika Hilton is working to consolidate the necessary support, relying on government coordination.
Deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP) stated that he intends to seek support from the Executive to ensure the necessary votes.
Meanwhile, the government’s leader in the Chamber, Deputy José Guimarães (PT-CE), assured that he will work on negotiations inside and outside the plenary to approve the proposal.
In the meantime, other similar proposals are being processed in Congress. The PEC 221/2019, presented by Deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG), proposes a gradual reduction of the workweek from 44 to 36 hours over ten years, without changing the 6×1 model.
This proposal is still awaiting a rapporteur in the Chamber’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ).
There is a possibility that the new PEC will be attached to PEC 221/2019, which could either expedite or complicate its progress, depending on negotiations.
A Debate That Must Continue
The discussion about the workweek in Brazil is far from over.
While unions and labor movements push for changes, the business sector is assessing economic impacts and organizing to halt advances that could increase their operational costs.
Regardless of the outcome, the proposal filed by Erika Hilton marks a new chapter in the struggle for better working conditions in Brazil, reigniting a debate that could redefine the future of the job market in the country.
13 anos trabalhando nessa escala 6×1 horrorosa que esse governo e empresários pensem dessa vez na saúde em vez de pensar só em encher os bolsos a escala 5×2 será ideal