Presidents of PL and União Brasil announced efforts to prevent the PEC ending the 6x1 schedule from advancing in the Chamber's Constitution and Justice Committee. They argue a plenary vote would be difficult in an election year. The proposal amends the Constitution to cap the workweek at 36 hours.
At a dinner with entrepreneurs in the Faria Lima area of São Paulo on the night of February 23, 2026, Valdemar Costa Neto, president of PL, and Antonio Rueda, of União Brasil, expressed intent to halt the progress of the PEC ending the 6x1 schedule in the Chamber's CCJ. The move aims to prevent the text from reaching the plenary, where, they say, deputies would struggle to vote against it due to the election calendar.
"It's hard for a citizen running for federal deputy or senator to vote against [ending the 6x1 scale] if they put it to a vote. We're going to work to not let it be voted on," Valdemar told a group of entrepreneurs at an event hosted by the Esfera group. He added: "We're going to work for that. We're going to change our lives for that. And what we intend to do is work with the Chamber president and hold it in the CCJ."
The main PEC is authored by Deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), to which Deputy Reginaldo Lopes' (PT-MG) proposal was appended. Both amend Article 7 of the Constitution, setting a maximum 36-hour workweek, distributable as the employer sees fit, with an eight-hour daily limit. Lopes' version allows 5x2 with seven daily hours in sectors like banking, while Erika's suggests four workdays.
Rueda criticized the proposal as harmful to the economy and driven by electoral motives. "When you look at any developed country, this proposal is very damaging to the economy and the productive sector. And it's put forward in an electoral way," he said. He highlighted challenges for lawmakers voting against it in plenary, citing Deputy Maurício Carvalho (União Brasil-RO), present at the event. "If this proposal goes to plenary, it's overwhelming," Rueda said, estimating the opposition has about 70 votes against 140-150 from the left.
At a Fiesp event the same day, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) argued that reducing work hours is a global trend driven by automation, responding to Paulo Skaf, who suggested postponing the debate to 2027 as it's an election year.
A CNC study shows 92% of commerce workers are on shifts over 40 hours, with an estimated R$357.4 billion cost for adaptation in commerce and services. The entity favors collective bargaining over constitutional change.
