Congress is debating a proposal to reduce working hours from 44 to 40 hours per week, guaranteeing two days of rest for workers with formal employment contracts. The discussion involves a constitutional amendment and legislative bills, with support from Chamber President Hugo Motta and opposition from business entities.
The 44-hour work week was established by Brazil's 1988 Constitution, reducing the previous 48-hour limit that had been in place since the Labor Law Consolidation. The current proposal seeks to reduce this workload to 40 hours per week without salary cuts, guaranteeing two days of rest for workers with formal employment contracts.
The proposal establishes a reduction in working hours from 44 to 40 hours per week without salary reduction
The change would result in approximately 52 additional rest days per year
A constitutional amendment on the topic was approved in the Chamber's Constitution and Justice Committee
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (4)
Fiemg projects losses of up to 18 million jobs and an impact of up to 16% on GDP
Senator Cleitinho (Republicans-MG), a Bolsonaro supporter, advocates for the proposal
The Lula government sent a bill with constitutional urgency as an alternative to the constitutional amendment
The reduction would represent about 9.1% in total workload and an increase close to 10% in hourly wage value
No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.