by ICL Noticias
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated on social media the Senate’s approval of a proposal to end the 6×1 work schedule. That schedule included six days of work, followed by one day of rest.
The Brazilian work week will now be 40 hours long and five days a week. The new rule will go into effect gradually over the next year.
Lawmakers hold up their hands in the format of an "L” after the plan to end the 6x1 work week was approved in the Senate (Ton Molina/Agência Senado)
The vote took place this Wednesday, October 14. The president described the measure as a victory for Brazilian workers.
In a post on X, Lula announced the outcome and highlighted the impact this change could have on the daily lives of professionals.
“It’s official: the 6×1 schedule is over! Today is a day to celebrate a historic achievement for millions of workers,” he wrote.
The president emphasized that reducing the workweek offers an opportunity for people to dedicate more time to their personal lives and families.
“Ending the 6×1 schedule is more than just a change in working hours,” he posted. “It means more time to live, rest, be with family, watch one’s children grow up, take care of oneself, and enjoy life. Those who work so hard to build Brazil also deserve to have time to live.”
On Instagram, Lula shared a video showing him following the Senate vote and reacting to the proposal’s approval.
In the footage, he also highlighted the popular mobilization surrounding the issue, stating that the change is the result of a long-standing demand from the working class.
“It was an extraordinary moment for the Brazilian people,” he said. “I am certain that an achievement like this will never be revoked, because it wasn’t a bureaucratic victory, it was an achievement that emerged from the streets and from a historic desire of the working people.”
The president expressed his gratitude to the Brazilians who took part in demonstrations advocating for a shorter work week, as well as to the senators who voted in favor of the proposal.
“The people deserve respect,” he said. “And they deserve to earn that respect.”
This article was originally published by ICL Noticias. It was translated by Panamerican Dispatch. You can read the original, in Portuguese, here. Below you can watch the full vote in Brazil's Senate.