Brazil to shorten workweek in win for Lula ahead of runoff

Brazil's Senate approved cutting the workweek from 44 to 40 hours. The move could give President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva an edge over his opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro, ahead of the October 25 runoff.

Brazil's Senate on Thursday approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the working week to five days from six without a salary cut, likely providing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with an edge ahead of Flavio Bolsonaro in the presidential runoff on October 25.

Brazil's leftist leader has taken a number of steps in recent days to shore up support before the runoff, including new fuel tax cuts, extending existing subsidies and pledging to pardon the debts of more than 3.6 million small businesses to the federal government and others.

But the pledge to trim the workweek turned into a top promise that Lula hoped to deliver on before the runoff.

The new amendment, known as the "6x1" reform, could benefit more than 37 million workers, according to the government.

"The end of the 6x1 is more than a change in the workday. It's more time to live, rest, be with family, watch your children grow, take care of yourself, and enjoy life," Lula wrote on X.

"Those who work so hard to build Brazil also deserve time to live. It's a victory for workers. It's Brazil ready for more," he said.

But the legislation still leaves out a large number of people in the shadow economy, like freelancers and delivery drivers.

Lula, a former trade unionist, worked on the proposal to reduce the workweek with his government over the course of the year.

Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing senator and the eldest son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, had long opposed the legislation. But Flavio Bolsonaro reversed course on Tuesday to say that he'll back the bill because it has so much support.

Many businesses opposed the bill because it would raise their costs, and Bolsonaro previously argued for estabilishing a flexible payment regime where individuals negotiate their pay with their employers.

In the first round of elections earlier this month, Bolsonaro dealt Lula a bruising defeat, finishing ahead with 47% of the vote, though short of the 50% needed for an outright majority.