Brazil ends six-day workweek reform advanced October 14, as senators approved a constitutional amendment backed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The measure replaces the six-days-on, one-day-off schedule with five workdays and two paid rest days for covered employees.

Senators approved the amendment 75 votes to one in both rounds, giving Lula a political victory before Brazil’s October 25 presidential runoff. The reform cuts the standard maximum workweek from 44 hours to 40, while protecting workers against salary reductions under the approved text.

However, Brazil ends six-day workweek arrangements gradually; lawmakers must formally promulgate the amendment before its transition timetable begins. Sixty days after promulgation, employers must introduce five workdays, two rest days, and a 42-hour weekly limit.

After another twelve months, the maximum workweek will fall to 40 hours, completing the transition in fourteen months overall. Official reporting estimates the reform could benefit more than 37 million formal-sector workers across Latin America’s largest economy.

Supporters say the additional rest day will give workers more time for family, leisure, education, and personal recovery. Lula celebrated the vote as a victory for workers, calling the reform an improvement to everyday life and workplace fairness.

The amendment drew broad political support, including from Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula’s opponent in the upcoming presidential runoff. Bolsonaro had opposed the proposal but reversed his position shortly before the vote, amid strong public support for shorter hours.

Business groups warn shorter hours could raise operating costs and pressure employers, especially in sectors requiring extended staffing. Exceptions and collective bargaining arrangements may affect particular schedules, so the precise impact will depend on implementation and applicable rules.

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