Brazil Moves to Reshape Work Culture With 40-Hour Week Proposal

Brazil’s lower house of Congress has approved a constitutional amendment to establish a 40-hour, five-day workweek , marking a major shift in the country’s labour structure and reflecting a growing global push toward improved work-life balance.

The proposal, backed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of October’s presidential election, would end the country’s long-standing six-day work schedule. Currently, many Brazilian workers put in 44 hours a week across five full workdays and a half-day on Saturdays.

If approved by the Senate, the amendment will guarantee at least 37 million workers two consecutive weekly rest days preferably Saturday and Sunday without reducing pay. Businesses will have 14 months to adapt to the changes.

Supporters say the reform addresses inequality in Brazil’s labour market. “People who work Monday to Saturday are often the ones who work the hardest and earn the least,” government whip Paulo Pimenta told lawmakers during the debate.

The proposal, however, has drawn criticism from business groups and some opposition leaders, who warn that companies could struggle with rising labour costs and slower hiring. Lawmaker Kim Kataguiri said the transition was being rushed and could negatively affect employment.

Brazil joins a broader regional trend toward shorter working hours. Mexico recently approved plans to gradually move to a 40-hour week by 2030, while Chile implemented its “40-Hour Law” last year without reducing salaries.

The debate mirrors wider global conversations on changing workplace culture after the pandemic, with governments and labour advocates increasingly arguing that shorter workweeks can improve productivity, mental health, and family life.