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Bill Proposes That Time Spent Commuting to Work Be Counted as Working Hours Again, Reigniting Debate on CLT Rights.
The Bill 236/2025, currently in progress in the Chamber of Deputies, proposes to change one of the most controversial points of the labor reform approved in 2017: the end of compensation for the time spent commuting between home and work, known in the legal field as “hours in itinere”. If the text is approved, millions of workers who spend long hours in traffic or in company-provided transportation could start receiving compensation for that time again, which would be considered part of the working day.
The proposal reignites the debate on rights, productivity, and quality of life, especially for those living far from urban centers or relying on transportation provided by the employer.
What the Text of PL 236/2025 Says
Presented in March 2025, the PL 236/2025 modifies Article 58 of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), which addresses the duration of working hours. Currently, the law establishes that commuting time is not counted as working time, even if the journey is long or made using company transportation.
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End of the 1-hour lunch break in the CLT? Current labor law maintains the break, allows for negotiated reductions, and defines rules for working hours and home office in Brazil.
The bill proposes that this time be counted again, when the worker does not have public transportation available or when they are required to use transportation provided by the employer to reach the workplace.
In practice, this restores the right that existed before the labor reform of 2017, when commuting hours were compensated in specific cases recognized by the Labor Court.
How It Worked Before the Reform
Before 2017, the Justice recognized that, in hard-to-access places or without public transportation, the time spent commuting to work should be counted as working hours. This applied, for example, for employees of plants, farms, mining operations, and industries located far from urban areas.
The rule was revoked by the labor reform (Law No. 13,467/2017), which removed the section from the CLT and stopped considering this time as part of the workday, even when the worker was entirely dependent on company transportation.
Since then, thousands of labor lawsuits have been closed based on this change, and the issue has become one of the most criticized by unions and legal experts.
Why the Issue Has Come Back to the Fore
The PL 236/2025 was presented amid a new movement in Congress to revise points of the labor reform.
Deputies supporting the bill argue that the worker should not be penalized for living far away and that daily commuting is also part of the work routine, especially in cities with inadequate transportation.
Parliamentarians linked to labor unions argue that the time spent in buses or vans provided by companies affects workers’ health and rest, reducing the time available for family and leisure activities.
On the other hand, representatives of the business sector claim that the change would increase payroll costs and create legal uncertainty, as the calculation of commuting hours varies depending on distance and traffic conditions.
Direct Impact on CLT Workers
If the PL 236/2025 is approved, companies operating in remote areas such as construction sites, farms, and industrial plants would have to resume recording transportation time as part of the working day.
This would mean that in addition to regular working hours, the employer would have to pay for commuting hours, including impacts on overtime, vacations, FGTS, and 13th salary.
According to labor law experts, the impact would be most felt in rural, mining, construction, and large industrial sectors, where commutes can last from 1 to 3 hours per day.
What Still Needs to Happen for the Bill to Become Law
Currently, the PL 236/2025 is under review by the Commission on Labor, Administration, and Public Service (CTASP) of the Chamber of Deputies.
After that, it will move to the committees on Finance and Taxation and Constitution and Justice (CCJ) before being voted on in the plenary.
If approved by the Chamber, the text will still need to go through the Federal Senate and ultimately receive presidential approval. In other words, it is not law yet, but it is already generating significant mobilization among unions and business associations.
A Debate That Again Divides the Country
The discussion about commuting hours has divided opinions since the 2017 reform. While workers and unions advocate for the return of the rule as a matter of justice and social balance, employers argue that the change could raise production costs and hinder the generation of formal jobs.
The fact is that the PL 236/2025 brings the issue back to the forefront of labor discussions, showing that Brazilian legislation remains in constant transformation, striving to balance productivity and dignity in labor relations.
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