Brazil's Congress approves shorter workweek in legislative win for Lula

Brazil’s Senate has approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the country’s maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours. The measure, which also mandates two rest days per week without a reduction in salary, represents the most significant overhaul of workers' rights in the nation since the return to democracy in 1988. The government estimates that the new rules will benefit more than 30 to 37 million workers.

The amendment passed the Senate in two rounds of voting with a final tally of 75 to 1. The only vote against the measure came from former Vice President Hamilton Mourao. The legislation had previously cleared the Chamber of Deputies in May. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who championed the initiative, is expected to sign the amendment into law next week.

The approved text provides businesses with a 14-month transition period to implement the shorter workweek. This timeline was a significant point of negotiation, as many business leaders and lawmakers had initially advocated for a more gradual implementation period spanning up to 10 years.

The timing of the vote comes less than two weeks before the October 25 presidential runoff election. President Lula, who is currently trailing his right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro, is expected to see a boost in his standing due to the popularity of the move. Nationwide polling indicates that nearly 70% of Brazilians support the reduction in working hours.

Flávio Bolsonaro, who had previously opposed the initiative, shifted his position and cast a vote in favor of the amendment remotely while campaigning in southern Brazil. Analysts and political observers noted that his allies in the Senate ceased blocking the measure to prevent potential damage to his campaign in the closely contested race against Lula.