President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent a bill to Congress on the night of April 14 with constitutional urgency to end the 6x1 work scale and reduce the workweek to 40 hours. Lula stated it returns time to workers for family and leisure. The text will be protocolled in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday (April 15).
President Lula posted on social media that the bill represents “a step toward a fairer country with better quality of life for all”. He emphasized it allows workers “to see their children grow, for leisure, rest, and family time”.
The message formalizing the submission was published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) on Tuesday night (April 14). Government leader in the Chamber, Deputy Paulo Pimenta (PT-RS), will protocol the text on Wednesday (April 15). The detailed content of the proposal has not yet been disclosed.
The decision followed a lunch between Lula and Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) at the Planalto Palace. Motta signaled willingness to dialogue with party leaders but will keep the PEC schedule. Relations Minister José Guimarães stated: “The crisis over sending or not the bill is overcome [...] There is a consolidated understanding”.
The urgency request requires the Chamber and Senate to vote within 45 days each, or it will block the agenda. The government chose an alternative bill to the ongoing PEC to speed approval and allow presidential veto of parliamentary changes.
