Brazilian Senate Approves End of 6x1 Work Schedule; Lula Celebrates Reform in Campaign Rallies

On October 14, 2026, the Brazilian Senate approved a landmark change to labor laws by ending the 6x1 work schedule, which previously mandated six days of work followed by one day of rest. This reform, promulgated by the National Congress on October 16, guarantees workers two consecutive paid rest days per week, preferably including Sunday, without any reduction in salary. Furthermore, weekly working hours have been reduced from 44 to 40, allowing a maximum of eight hours per day with compensations and reductions available through collective agreements.

Alongside this, the Senate approved measures benefiting individual microentrepreneurs by increasing their revenue limits, expanding the number of employees they may hire, and forgiving debts owed to the government. Additionally, a provisional measure established the National Examination for the Assessment of Medical Training (Enamed), a new medical licensing requirement involving evaluations during medical education.

These legislative advances came as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the PT presidential candidate, held campaign rallies in Minas Gerais on October 16. Lula celebrated the end of the 6x1 schedule as a central achievement of his campaign, asserting during a speech in Juiz de Fora, "Nobody will suffer losses with the end of the 6x1 schedule. Who will benefit is Brazil, the working people, and women, who will have two days to rest and take care of their families." He urged support ahead of the upcoming election's second round and highlighted his administration's prior accomplishments, such as investments in full-time schools and the Pé-de-Meia program to assist high school students financially.

At a subsequent rally in Ipatinga, Lula reaffirmed his commitment to continuing economic recovery after the Bolsonaro administration and promised to eliminate taxes on essential food starting January. He also criticized Flávio Bolsonaro for meeting with Globo executives on the same day as a network interview, suggesting media bias, although Globo clarified the meeting was a routine visit without journalists present.

The termination of the 6x1 work schedule represents a significant shift in Brazil's labor landscape, aiming to improve workers’ quality of life and signal broader social reforms tied closely to the current political discourse.