PEC 221/2019, mostly known as Constitutional Amendment of the End of 6x1 Work Scale (), is a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to reduce the weekly working hours in Brazil, eliminating the 6x1 model (six consecutive days of work followed by one day of rest) and establishing two paid rest days for workers, without salary reduction. It also makes it optional for the two days off to occur on consecutive days in the same week, allowing them to be granted on non-consecutive days.

Historically endorsed by trade union movements, labour centers and left-wing parties, the bill gained strength in the National Congress after an increase of complaints on physical and mental exhaustion of workers subjected to long working times, specially in commerce and services sectors, besides double burden of women. The report passed by the Chamber special committee on 27 May 2026 provides a gradual transition from a 44-hour to a 40-hour work week, maintaining rights such as paid vacations, FGTS and thirteenth salary. In the voting session, political parties historically linked to advocating for a reduction in working hours, such as the Workers' Party (PT) and the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), of which deputies Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG) and Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP) are authors of the bill, voted in favor of the proposal, while the Liberal Party (PL) cast the largest number of votes against the bill.

During its processing, the bill suffered setbacks and attacks from part of Bolsonarist and right-wing deputies, of which acted to prevent an approval already negotiated in the special committee and to generate political wear and tear around the proposal. Amongst the tactics used by the Liberal Party, was a "counter-bill" for an immediate approval of a four-day workweek, with the intention to create a possible economic crisis in the country. However, such strategies were not succeeded.

Millions of Brazilians, sectors of civil society and artists endorsed the amendment bill, with protests in favor held in many cities of Brazil, specially in the capitals of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais and in cities in the countryside of São Paulo, such as Campinas and Osasco. Following the widely negative reaction from the public and workers' representative bodies, many deputies, specially from Centrão, retreated and removed their endorsements to the counterproposals presented by the opposition.

History Background

Supported by progressive lawmakers and by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva cabinet members, the bill became known as one of the main labour issues since 1988 Constitution. Labour unions and left-wing organizations classified the proposal as a "civilizing measure" and a "historical reparation" after decades of working times considered excessive and exploitative. The subject gained national repercussion in 2024, boosted by the "Life Beyond Work Movement" (Movimento Vida Além do Trabalho, VAT), organized by Rio de Janeiro councillor Rick Azevedo (PSOL), who supported changes in the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) and reduction of weekly working hours without reduction in salary.

The bill was filed in the National Congress by deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), author of PEC 8/2025, which provided the end of the 6x1 working time and the implementation of a 4x3 working time. In parallel, deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG) already had filed a similar bill, processing in the Chamber since 2019, PEC 221/2019. Later, both texts were attached and began to be processed jointly in the Chamber of Deputies. According to Hilton, the bill process represented a "victory for social movements" and the popular pressure surrounding the reduction of the work week. The deputy affirmed that the bill sought to discuss an "obsolete working structure", while labour movements endorsed the end of 6x1 work week as a measure to promote mental health, weekly rest and family life of Brazilian workers.

During the processing of the bill, trade and labour unions organized protests supporting the proposal, while the federal government participated in the negotiations to draft a consensus text between the Chamber and the Executive branch. According to the National Confederation of Financial Sector Workers (Contraf-CUT), the report presented by deputy Léo Prates (Republicanos-BA) fixed "non-negotiable" issues by the government and social movements, such as the reduction of week hours from 44 to 40 hours, the end of 6x1 working time and full maintenance of wages.

Chamber of Deputies

Initially introduced in 2019 by deputy Reginaldo Lopes, the first bill, PEC 221/2019, sought to reduce the workload to 36 hours per week, after a 10-year transition. The bill stalled in the Chamber for years, but the issue gained traction following the creation of a second bill, PEC 8/2025, introduced by deputy Erika Hilton, seeking to institute a 4x3 system (four working days and three rest days). During the processing in the Chamber, both bills were merged into a substitute bill authored by deputy Léo Prates, the rapporteur, with the first technically being approved (with the text amended) and the second being archived.

On the other side, right-wing and far-right deputies began to campaign against the proposal, claiming possible economic impacts, rising costs for employers and risks to the labour market. These lawmakers also introduced amendments that could delay the reduction of the weekly working hours up to 10 years, besides expanding mechanisms for employer flexibility.

During the processing of the bill, Liberal Party lawmakers – party which already tried to block another bill introduced by president Lula da Silva to expand the income tax exemption bracket for those earning up to R$ 5,000, passed in 2025. – introduced an alternative proposal for a 4x3 working time, effective immediately, aiming to embarrass the federal government, block the approval of the main bill in the special committee and generating political wear and tear around the proposal. The alternative bill, considered "irresponsible" by Brazil Union and Progressistas, was rejected by the House.

On 27 May 2026, the bill passed on the Chamber Special Committee by 34 votes to 4; only Liberal (PL) and New Party (NOVO) members voted against. On the same day, the bill was tabled on the plenary chamber, which needed 308 votes to pass in two ballots. On the first ballot, the voting was 472 to 22; on the second ballot, 461 to 19. Therefore, the bill proceeded for a Senate review.

One of the deputies speaking in the parlor, Pastor Sargento Isidório (Avante-BA), made an unusual comment: holding a Bible, he celebrated that workers will have more time to "have sex in peace and with more tranquility".

Plenary Held in two ballots, the bill passed in a first ballot by 472 votes in favor and 22 against. There were 18 absent deputies and one obstruction. On the second ballot, it passed by 461 in favor and 19 against, with 33 absences.

VotingChamber of Deputies First ballot → 27 May 2026 Second ballot → 27 May 2026 Required majority → 308 out of 513 Required majority → 308 out of 513 Obstruction Sources

Aftermath After the bill passed the Chamber, the House President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) stated that the support of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was essential for the bill's approval. According to Motta, the coordination between the federal government and its allied base and party leaders helped consolidate sufficient political support for the bill's approval in the Chamber of Deputies.

He added that reducing working hours is "promoting health":

In turn, President Lula da Silva said that ending the 6x1 work schedule is "a civilizational achievement", promising to work on the political coordination to get the proposal approved by the Senate.

See also Constitutional Amendment of the Public Expenditure Cap Gig worker

References