Brazil advances 40-hour workweek reform and two-day rest entitlement (update)
At a glance
- On April 14, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva introduced Bill No. 1,838/2026 to the Chamber of Deputies.
- In late May 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved a proposed Constitutional Amendment establishing a 40-hour work week over five days with two days off, which has now been sent to the Senate.
- The framework introduces a 40-hour weekly limit without salary reduction, with a transition period to reach the new threshold.
- All workers would be entitled to two paid rest days per week, one of which should preferably fall on Sunday, taking effect two months after publication of the amendment.
- Further developments are expected within approximately 45 days as the proposal progresses through the legislative process.
Update: 7 September 2026
The proposal was approved by the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) on September 2, 2026 and will now proceed to the Senate plenary, where it will be voted on in two rounds.
As the proposal has been granted a special procedural regime, further developments are expected in the coming weeks, ahead of the presidential election in October.
9 June 2026
On April 14, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva submitted Bill No. 1,838/2026 to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, proposing a standard 40-hour working week, including for employees working under special shift arrangements, alongside an entitlement to two weekly rest days.
Building on this proposal, at the end of May 2026 the Chamber of Deputies approved a proposed Constitutional Amendment establishing a 40-hour working week spread over five days, with two days off. The amendment has now been submitted to the Senate for consideration.
The bill establishes that the reduction in weekly working hours will be implemented without any reduction in salary, with a transition period to reach the 40-hour threshold. In addition, two months after the publication of the amendment, workers will become entitled to two paid rest days per week, one of which should preferably fall on a Sunday.
If adopted in its current form, the new framework will apply broadly, including to sectors currently subject to collective agreements permitting longer working hours.
The proposal is progressing on an expedited basis, and further developments are expected within approximately 45 days.
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