Brazil’s Senate approves shorter workweek in win for Lula

On Wednesday, Brazil's Senate voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to reduce the country's workweek from six days to five days, providing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with a significant legislative win less than two weeks before the presidential runoff. The labor reform, popular among the Brazilian population, received support from lawmakers of various political backgrounds in the two necessary votes, including Lula's runoff opponent, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who had initially opposed the measure.

The Senate's approval comes after the lower house's endorsement in May, lowering the working hours in Brazil's largest economy to 40 hours per week from 44, effectively ending the practice of requiring formal employees to work six days a week in some sectors, such as retail. This amendment represents the most substantial overhaul of Brazilian labor rights in decades and is estimated to benefit over 37 million formal-sector workers, with the new standard to be implemented over a 14-month period.

President Lula, who is seeking his fourth non-consecutive term, and his government have strongly advocated for this measure, while Bolsonaro and his Liberal Party had long opposed it, arguing that the move was intended to bolster Lula's chances of reelection. In a post on X, Lula hailed the amendment as a victory for workers, emphasizing that it would provide more time for living, resting, being with family, watching children grow, taking care of oneself, and enjoying life.

Bolsonaro, who had led Lula in the election's first round earlier this month, ultimately changed his stance on Tuesday ahead of the Senate vote, stating that he would indeed vote to shorten the workweek.