The proposed amendment to end the 6x1 work schedule risks being shelved (at least before the elections).

Brasilia — Despite overtures to the government and supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) that ends the 6x1 work schedule in Brazil, President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) has been signaling to senators behind the scenes that the vote on the text may be postponed until after the elections, NeoFeed has learned.  

A few weeks ago, there was an expectation among senators, albeit small and based on postponements, that the PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment) could be voted on in plenary before the parliamentary recess, which begins on June 18th. "But now it's worse, and the current situation is that there will be no vote before October," admits a source in the Senate .  

The inevitable backdrop is the pre-election scenario. In theory, the proposed constitutional amendment favors the campaign rhetoric for the reelection of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and regional disputes among government allies. On the other hand, pro-business parliamentarians, who disagree with the proposal, are forced to vote in favor of the text to avoid a possible loss of voters at the polls in October.

If the proposed constitutional amendment is only put to a vote after the election, however, the business community, along with opposition parliamentarians, will continue with the strategy of seeking more time for the transition to the new law, compensation for companies (a tactic strongly rejected by the Ministry of Finance), and some special condition for small businesses and specific sectors, for example.

Companies argue that the proposed constitutional amendment will impact their costs and will not necessarily increase productivity in the workplace, as the government claims.

This Wednesday, July 1st, Alcolumbre already met with labor unions in favor of the PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment). He also held a debate this afternoon with both sides—those in favor of and those against the proposal—including representatives from CUT (Unified Workers' Central) and other workers' organizations, as well as CNI (National Confederation of Industry), Fiesp (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo), and various business associations from industry, agribusiness, commerce, transportation, and other economic sectors.  

Also present at the debate table, which is still taking place in the Senate, are ministers Luiz Marinho (Labor), Guilherme Boulos (General Secretariat), and Paulo Henrique Rodrigues (Entrepreneurship), as well as the newest leader of the government, Teresa Leitão (PT-PE).  

Earlier today, Alcolumbre even proposed in a meeting with union representatives that there should be no further transition period to implement the end of the 6x1 work schedule and the reduction of working hours from the current 44 hours to 40 hours per week.  

The Senate president also argues that this amendment to the PEC text can happen through a drafting amendment that would prevent the PEC from returning to the Chamber of Deputies. In theory, any change by the Senate to the PEC text would send it back to the Chamber for analysis, as mandated by the congressional rules, which could further delay its progress.  

The proposal reached the senators a month ago and has yet to make progress. At the end of May, federal deputies approved the proposal, which stipulates the new 5x2 schedule (five days worked and two days off per week) and a reduction in working hours to 40 hours, without a reduction in salary.  

The proposal approved in plenary also granted a one-year transition period before the new labor market rules take effect. First, there will be a period for reducing the current 44-hour week to 42 hours. And, subsequently, a year for companies to adopt the 40-hour week for their work shifts.  

Speaking to NeoFeed , Minister Marinho, the Minister of Labor, himself blamed Alcolumbre for "sitting on" the 6x1 PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment ). According to the minister, there is a high chance that the proposal will be postponed until after the parliamentary recess.  

A source from the productive sector, who has been participating in negotiations and meetings with Alcolumbre, reported to NeoFeed , however, that there is a kind of double game being played by Alcolumbre regarding the PEC. Despite the pro-PEC gesture today, he used a different tone on Tuesday, June 30th, in the Senate plenary.  

" The way some authorities in the Republic are handling certain matters pending consideration in the Federal Senate is not appropriate. The aggression, insults, and attacks are not normal," Alcolumbre said at the time.  

“I have a statement from an important authority who said that the 6x1 scale amendment needs to be deliberated before the election because it will be used for the electoral calendar. Wouldn't that be an argument or a tactic of saying to the other party: I'm threatening you?”, he pointed out.  

A day later, however, the atmosphere is different. This Wednesday, the government leader, Teresa Leitão, made a point of downplaying the apparent conflict between the government's allied base and the Senate, even though Alcolumbre still hasn't proposed a timetable for voting on the PEC in the plenary. She denied that the text is stalled in the Senate. 

“ The PEC calendar is not an electoral one, but a parliamentary calendar, from Congress. With all good will, with full awareness of the importance of this PEC, because there is nothing better than dialogue, than listening to people, than analyzing the situation to achieve this victory,” Teresa stated after the meeting with the president of the Senate.