Brazil's Senate approves cutting the workweek from 44 to 40 hours ahead of runoff

Mixed · 2Brazil's Senate approved a constitutional amendment to shorten the workweek, moving from a six-day schedule to five days without a salary cut. 1 2 Right · 1According to Bloomberg, carried by The Straits Times, the Senate voted 75-1 on 14 October in two rounds, giving final passage to a proposal that ends the "6x1" schedule, under which some 16 million Brazilians work six days a week with one day off. 2 Mixed · 2The change reduces weekly working hours from 44 to 40. Deutsche Welle says the government estimates the reform could benefit more than 37 million workers, and that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to sign it into law next week. 2 1

Mixed · 2Lula, a former trade unionist, made the reduction his flagship campaign promise. After finishing behind Flávio Bolsonaro in the 4 October first round, he challenged the senator to back it and held rallies in São Paulo and Brasília. 2 1 Mixed · 2Bolsonaro, a right-wing senator and son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro, had opposed the bill and, per Bloomberg, sought to delay the vote until after the election. He reversed course on 13 October, saying he would back it because most workers support it. 2 1 Mixed · 2Bolsonaro had repeatedly called the legislation election-motivated, and he continues to advocate an alternative under which employees negotiate hours and pay with their employers, which he says offers more flexibility. 1 2

Mixed · 2Lula called the vote "a victory for workers" and said it means "more time to live, rest, be with family, watch one’s children grow up". 1 2 Mixed · 2Many businesses and business groups opposed the change, arguing it raises costs; Bloomberg adds they say it reduces productivity. Deutsche Welle notes the legislation leaves out many people in the informal economy, such as freelancers and delivery drivers. 1 2 Mixed · 2Lula has taken other steps to shore up support, including fuel tax cuts, extended subsidies and a debt relief plan for microentrepreneurs unveiled on 13 October. 1 2

Mixed · 2Bolsonaro is seen as the favourite for the 25 October runoff. He led the first round with 47% of the vote, short of the 50% needed to win outright. A Quaest poll released 14 October put him at 51% of valid votes to Lula's 49%, and Bloomberg says no candidate who trailed in the first round has won a runoff since 1989. 1 2 Mixed · 2Whether the popular measure translates into votes is an open question: Bloomberg notes the 80-year-old Lula has struggled to turn popular policies into support as parts of his working-class base have moved right, while Deutsche Welle says the campaign has been dominated by frustration over street crime, evangelical church influence, business tax burdens and economic dissatisfaction. 2 1