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Brazil cuts working week, giving some workers an extra day off
Brazil shortens workweek to 40 hours, boosting worker time off ahead of presidential runoff.
In brief
Brazil shortens workweek to 40 hours, boosting worker time off ahead of presidential runoff. Brazil's constitutional amendment cuts maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, affecting 30 million workers and giving left-wing president Lula a political edge ahead of October 25 runoff. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Brazil cuts working week
Brazil has shortened the working week to a maximum of 40 hours, a move that could affect up to 30 million people.
Constitutional amendment passes
The amendment to Brazil's constitution passed through the country's congress on top of cutting the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, it also bans six-day workweeks which 16 million Brazilians are on.
Affects low-paid workers
The new rules are expected to largely affect retail, restaurant and hotel workers, most of them being low-paid.
Political win for Lula
The move will likely hand a political win to Left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the presidential runoff in just nine days.
Lula lost support in 2022
Lula lost support from this cohort since the 2022 election, where he defeated Jair Bolsonaro.
Younger Bolsonaro reversed stance
While Lula has long backed the working week amendment, the younger Bolsonaro spent months opposing it before reversing course on Tuesday.
Lula's social media statement
Lula wrote on social media following the amendment's passage: 'Ending the 6x1 schedule is about more than changing working hours.
Changes take effect after runoff
Though it has been approved, none of the changes will take effect until well after the October 25 runoff.
Senate celebrates approval
Senators celebrate the approval of a constitutional amendment bill that would end the 6x1 work schedule, during a voting session on the proposal at the Federal Senate of Brazil.
Lula campaign event
Brazilian President and re-election candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva holds a sign reading 'for the end of the 6x1 shift schedule' during a campaign event in Fortaleza, Brazil.
60-day timeline for change
After the Senate president promulgates the amendment, it will be 60 days before six-day workweeks are abolished.
Phased reduction to 40 hours
The maximum working week, meanwhile, will go from 44 to 42 hours, then to 40 hours after a further 14 months.
Worker relief
Despite this, Brazilians appeared to be relieved that these new limits will soon come into effect.
Lilian's story
Lilian Cristo dos Santos, 50, told The Guardian she only has one day off from her job as a saleswoman in Salvador, Bahia: 'There’s no time to go to the doctor, to the beach, to…
Poll shows Lula and Bolsonaro tied
A Datafolha poll of voter intentions published Thursday showed the rivals in a statistical tie.
Bolsonaro leads in polls
It showed Bolsonaro with 51 per cent of the vote, compared to 49 per cent for Lula, which is within the two-percentage-point margin of error.
Recent polling trends
Last week, the same polling firm had Bolsonaro on 52 per cent and Lula on 48 per cent.
Bolsonaro leads in another poll
On Wednesday, Quaest polling company also showed Bolsonaro on 51 per cent and Lula on 49 per cent.
What it means
Brazil's constitutional amendment cuts maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, affecting 30 million workers and giving left-wing president Lula a political edge ahead of October 25 runoff.
