Brazil Officially Ends Six-Day Workweek, Moves Toward a 40-Hour Working Week

Brazil has officially approved a landmark labour reform that will end the country’s standard six-day workweek and give workers two days of weekly rest without a reduction in pay.

The constitutional amendment was formally promulgated by Brazil’s National Congress on Friday, October 16, 2026, following approval by the Senate earlier in the week. The reform replaces the widely used “6×1” work schedule, under which employees work six days and receive one day off, with a five-day working week and two days of rest.

The change also reduces the maximum standard working week from 44 hours to 40 hours, although the new limit will be introduced gradually. The reform will not take effect in full immediately. Under the approved amendment, employers will have time to adjust their working arrangements.

The implementation will happen in two stages:

• First stage: Two months after publication of the amendment, workers covered by the new rules will move to a maximum of 42 working hours per week and become entitled to two weekly rest days.
• Second stage: Twelve months after the first reduction, the maximum working week will fall further to 40 hours.

The transition therefore spans approximately 14 months from publication. The amendment also states that the changes must be implemented without reducing workers’ pay.

The reform is expected to affect millions of Brazilian workers, particularly those in jobs where six-day schedules have been common.

A study by Brazil’s Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies estimated that ending the six-day schedule and reducing the maximum working week could benefit approximately 26.8 million workers, including formal and informal workers who currently work more than 40 hours weekly.

Supporters say the reform will give workers more time to rest, spend with their families, pursue education and enjoy life outside work. It is also intended to address concerns about exhaustion and the difficulty of balancing employment with personal responsibilities.

For many employees, a second weekly rest day represents more than a change to their work schedule. It could create additional time for family life, personal development and recovery from demanding jobs.

The reform is also part of a wider debate about working hours, productivity and workers’ rights across Latin America. Supporters argue that shorter working hours can improve quality of life, while some business groups have warned that the changes could increase operating costs and create challenges for employers.

The gradual implementation period is intended to give businesses time to adapt to the new requirements.

Brazil’s decision marks a significant change to its national labour framework. By establishing two weekly rest days and progressively lowering the standard working-hour limit, the country is seeking to give workers more time away from their jobs without cutting their wages.

The full 40-hour limit will take effect after the transition period, while employers prepare to comply with the new rules.

For workers in Brazil and observers in other countries debating shorter working weeks, the reform offers a significant example of how governments are responding to demands for a better balance between employment and personal life.