The Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of Brazil's Senate approved on Wednesday (Sept. 2) a constitutional amendment that ends the 6x1 work schedule, under which employees work six days in a row for a single day off. The vote was symbolic, with 27 senators present. The bill now goes to the Senate floor, where it needs at least 49 of 81 votes in two rounds. If it passes, the amendment is proclaimed at a solemn session of Congress, with no signature from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) required.
Rapporteur Omar Aziz (PSD-AM) kept the text exactly as approved by the Chamber of Deputies on May 27. Since nothing changed, the bill will not return to the lower house if the Senate confirms it. All 36 amendments presented were rejected. Senators Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), Jaime Bagattoli (PL-RO), Hamilton Mourão (Republicans-RS) and Tereza Cristina (PP-MS) asked for their votes against to be recorded. The vote only took place on Wednesday because committee chairman Otto Alencar (PSD-BA) granted just a one-hour review of the report, which the opposition had requested to push the decision to a later meeting.
The amendment sets a maximum workweek of 40 hours over five working days, with two rest days, one preferably Sunday, and no salary cut. The Constitution currently allows up to 44 hours a week, spread over as many as six working days with one day off. The two rest days take effect 60 days after the amendment is proclaimed. The workweek drops to 42 hours within the same period and reaches 40 hours one year later.
The committee debate
Presenting his report, Aziz asked for approval without changes and rejected every amendment, including a return to the 44-hour week backed by the PL caucus. "This is an amendment of empathy," he said. "The amendment is not only about reducing working hours, it goes beyond working hours." MDB leader Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM) said he will introduce a parallel amendment to soften the economic impact on sectors that run continuously, such as retail, food service, logistics, health care and other services. "And a pure transition requires more hiring, which can certainly raise the cost of the payroll," he said.
Rogério Marinho, the opposition leader, called the bill electoral and defended his alternative amendment, based on free negotiation between employer and worker and pay by the hour. "The government cares about this bill right now for only one reason. It wants to reconnect with society, because the wear is heavy and it will lose the election," he said. Government leader in the Senate Teresa Leitão (PT-PE) countered that the proposal advanced because of its strong popular appeal and dared candidates to take a stand. "Whoever is in favor of ending the 6x1 schedule, candidates, say so," she said. According to BBC News Brasil, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), the strongest challenger to Lula in the polls, declined to say on Sunday (Aug. 30) how he will vote on the floor.
What comes next
The Chamber passed the bill in two rounds on May 27, after a deal between Lula and Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB). The proposal then sat in the Senate for almost three months, until Lula and Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) rebuilt their ties. With elections one month away that will renew 54 of the 81 Senate seats, the government raced to schedule the vote before election day, according to BBC News Brasil.
Senators also approved a special fast-track procedure for the floor vote, which allows deadlines to be shortened by agreement among party leaders. Government allies are pressing for a vote this week, but Alcolumbre would not commit to a date. On the floor, the amendment needs two rounds and at least 49 votes to be proclaimed.