The Life Beyond Work (VAT) movement stirred up social media and the press in recent days with the proposal to end the scale of 6 days of work for 1 day off, the so-called 6×1 scale. The topic is among the most talked about on platform X. 
With social pressure, in the space of a week, the total number of deputies who signed the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) grew from 60 to 134, which establishes a working day of a maximum of 36 hours per week and 4 days of work. work per week in Brazil, ending the 6 to 1 escalation.
171 signatures are needed for the PEC to begin processing in the Chamber. And to be approved, it needs the vote of 308 of the 513 parliamentarians, in two rounds of voting.
Authored by deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL/RJ), the proposal was presented on May 1st of this year inspired by the VAT movement which, through a online petitionhas already collected more than 2.3 million signatures on the internet in favor of ending the 6 to 1 scale.
“[A jornada 6×1] It takes away workers’ right to spend time with their family, to take care of themselves, to have fun, to look for another job or even to qualify for a better job. The 6×1 scale is a prison, and is incompatible with the dignity of the worker”, argued Erika Hilton on a social network.
“The abusive working hours imposed by this work schedule negatively affects the quality of life of employees, compromising their health, well-being and family relationships”, warns the online petition.
Other proposals
At least two other PECs deal with reducing working hours in the National Congress, but do not end the 6 for 1 working day, which is the main demand of VAT.
Presented in 2019 by deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT/MG), the PEC 221/2019 proposes a reduction, over a period of ten years, from 44 hours per week to 36 hours per week of work without salary reduction.
The PEC awaits the appointment of the rapporteur in the Chamber’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ). If congresswoman Erika Hilton’s PEC reaches 171 signatures, it must be attached to congressman Reginaldo Lopes’ proposal.
PEC 221 includes a new provision in article 7 of the Constitution defining that normal work should not be “more than eight hours a day and thirty-six hours a week, with the possibility of compensating working hours and reducing working hours, through an agreement or collective labor convention ”.
Although the proposal does not veto the 6×1 scale, the parliamentarian has defended a journey of up to 5 by 2.
“[Domingo] It is the sacred day that the worker has freedom from toil. But it’s very little. It is past time for the country to adopt a reduction in working hours from 44 to 36 hours and this must be the center of a popular government. Brazil has to adopt a 4×3 or 5×2 model, without salary reduction”, argues the parliamentarian.
Another proposal that reduces working hours being discussed in the National Congress is the PEC 148, of 2015authored by senator Paulo Paim (PT/RS). The PEC defines a reduction from 44 hours to 40 hours per week in the first year. Then, the working day would be reduced by one hour per year until reaching 36 hours per week.
On a social network, Paim celebrates that the topic has returned to the debate. “It’s great to see that new parliamentarians, like federal deputy Erika Hilton, are in tune with the historic demands of workers. An old fight. I hope that the Chamber of Deputies votes on this proposal and that the Senate also votes on initiatives with the same theme”, highlighted the senator.
Unions
Reducing working hours in Brazil is a historic demand from trade unions. The Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) has always advocated reducing working hours from 44 hours to 40 hours a week.
“For decades, workers and trade unions have been demanding the reduction of strenuous working hours and the end of shifts that disregard workers’ health and the right to rest”, argues the Central dos Sindicatos Brasileiros (CSB), in a note supporting the end of the working day 6×1.
Reviews
The proposal to end the 6×1 scale also received criticism from parliamentarians and the National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), the employer entity where a large part of the workers who work on the 6x scale work. 1.
“The imposition of a reduction in working hours without a corresponding reduction in wages will directly result in an increase in companies’ operating costs. This inevitable increase in the payroll will put even more pressure on the productive sector, already burdened with various labor and tax obligations”, stated the CNC.
Deputy Amom Mandel (Cidadania-AM) assesses that he tends to think that the end of the 6×1 scale will harm the economy, but that he is open to being convinced otherwise. “The PEC requirement discussed is NOT for the end of the 6×1 scale, but rather for the establishment of a scale of four days a week (that is, a priori, not Monday to Friday). 80% of formal jobs in Brazil come from MICRO or small companies, folks,” he said on a social network.
Minister
The Minister of Labor and Employment (MTE), Luiz Marinho, in turn, defended that the 6×1 working day should be addressed in collective work conventions and agreements, when boss and workers negotiate the rules of the contract signed between the parties.
“The ministry considers, however, that reducing working hours to 40 hours a week is fully possible and healthy, when it results from a collective decision. The MTE has been closely following the debate and understands that this is a topic that requires the involvement of all sectors in an in-depth and detailed discussion, considering the specific needs of each area”, said Marinho on a social network.
