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The Proposal to Abolish the 6×1 Schedule Could Change the Way We Work in Brazil, But It Is Dividing Opinions. Businessmen Warn of Economic Impact, While Experts Argue That the Measure Could Improve Quality of Life and Even Generate New Jobs.
The Proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) Aimed at Eliminating the 6×1 Shift Has Sparked a Heated Debate on the Potential Economic and Social Impacts of This Change.
Since the announcement, the proposal has generated significant backlash on social media and among business confederations that represent vital economic sectors.
However, criticisms of the project, which reduces the weekly working hours from 44 to 36, highlight potential negative effects for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as questioning its effectiveness in improving the labor market.
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The decision on the future of this proposal promises to impact millions of workers and set new guidelines for Brazilian companies.
The project, authored by Federal Deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), aims to provide greater quality of life for workers who, according to supporters, are facing burnout with the current workload.
The deputy argues that the reduction could even foster a more dynamic economy, stimulating consumption and ensuring greater well-being for the working population.
However, according to Hilton, the PEC still needs to gather more signatures to progress. As of November 12, 2024, the project had 134 of the 171 signatures needed to initiate proceedings in the National Congress.
Entities Criticize the Change and Fear Marketplace Impact
The main business representation entities, such as the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC), have harshly criticized the proposal.
According to these organizations, a mandatory and abrupt reduction of working hours would severely undermine the competitiveness of businesses, particularly small and microenterprises.
The CNI pointed out that, without proper planning, this modification tends to overload business costs and compromise the financial stability of smaller businesses, leading to consequences such as layoffs or even business closures.
Alexandre Furlan, president of the CNI’s Labor Relations Council, stated that “the compulsory reduction of working hours does not automatically create new jobs,” emphasizing that economic growth is the main factor for generating job opportunities.
Furlan highlighted that the flexibility of working hours should be a negotiated process between employers and employees, according to the demands and economic reality of each sector.
He also advocated that changes in working hours should be evaluated through collective bargaining agreements and specific arrangements, rather than regulated as a national requirement.
Impact on Trade: New Requirements Could Harm Small Businesses
The CNC also echoed the CNI’s concerns, emphasizing that the new working hours would have a direct impact on the trade and services sectors, complicating the maintenance of operations.
In a statement, the CNC warned of the risk that a reduction in working hours without a proportional decrease in wages could increase operational costs, forcing companies to rethink their structures and hours of operation.
According to the statement, businesses might even close on specific days to cut expenses, which would harm both consumers and workers who rely on additional hours to supplement their income.
In November 2024, the CNC published an internal survey showing that 65% of business owners in the trade and tourism sectors believe that the PEC will lead to layoffs, while 47% see the risk of salary reductions for future hires.
According to this data, there is a concern that rising costs with salaries and charges could be offset by adjustments in the workforce and a reduction in labor benefits.
Mobilization and Popular Support for the PEC Are Growing
On the other hand, the PEC has growing support among worker groups and unions, which advocate for reduced working hours as a necessary step to improve the mental and physical health of professionals.
According to the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT), the current 6×1 shift is “exhausting and harmful” to employees’ well-being, and a reduction to 36 hours would allow for greater quality of life and more time for personal and family activities.
The CUT also argues that this change could reduce the number of medical leave due to burnout, a problem that has intensified in Brazil, according to recent studies.
However, business sectors and unions still need to reach a consensus on the best way to implement reduced working hours.
On November 11, 2024, a public hearing in the National Congress brought together representatives from both sides, who presented their positions and called for caution in analyzing the PEC.
The debates remain polarized, and the pressure for the project to advance or be rejected increases every week.
Next Steps for the PEC and Approval Perspective
If the PEC gathers the necessary number of signatures, the project will move to discussion in Congressional committees before being voted on in the Chamber of Deputies’ plenary.
The complete processing may take months and face resistance from both lawmakers connected to the business sector and those advocating for flexibility.
Hilton and other supporters of the proposal, however, believe that the change in the 6×1 shift could become a milestone in the country’s labor relations, promoting a fairer and more sustainable environment for the working class.
The question now lies in how to reconcile the demands of both sides, ensuring a policy that values workers without jeopardizing the viability of companies.
Will the PEC against the 6×1 shift be able to move forward, or will it face insurmountable obstacles? The answer is yet to come, but undoubtedly, the debate surrounding working hours promises to change the labor landscape in Brazil in the coming years.
Seria ponderável reduzir-se a carga horária dos trabalhadores, para 40 (quarenta) horas semanais. Reduzir para 36 (trinta e seis) horas, excede o razoável.