The End of the Six-Day Workweek

The six-day workweek is coming to an end. This month, Brazil’s Congress approved a constitutional amendment that reduces the standard workweek to 40 hours and gives employees two days off instead of one. And while employees will work fewer hours, their salaries will stay the same.

The changes won’t happen all at once, though. Beginning December 16, employees covered by Brazil’s labor laws (CLT) will get two days of paid rest each week (preferably including Sunday), and their maximum workweek will drop from 44 to 42 hours. A year later, that limit will fall to 40 hours.

For employees, it’s a welcome change: fewer hours of work for the exact same pay. For employers, however, it’s a very different story. Companies will have to figure out how to cover the same business hours with staff working less time. That could mean hiring additional workers, paying overtime, or adjusting schedules. For businesses that operate six or seven days a week, the impact and cost could be substantial.

Of course, there are exceptions. Certain high-earning workers won’t be subject to the reduced hours, and designated industries can negotiate alternative schedules through collective bargaining agreements. Companies with government service contracts will also have a longer transition period, while small businesses may benefit from legislation currently under discussion.

What was once just a proposal to shorten Brazil’s workweek is now law. While employees can look forward to an extra day off, employers have some work ahead of them. And the clock is already ticking.