PEC against 6x1 scale is filed in the Chamber with 234 signatures

Lucas Pordeus León - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that ends the six-day work schedule followed by one day off (6x1) was filed in the Chamber of Deputies this Tuesday (25), with 234 signatures. This was 63 more signatures than required to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment.

The proposed constitutional amendment establishes a four-day work week. Federal deputy Erika Hilton (PSOL-RJ), who leads the effort to push for the amendment in the House, stated that months of discussions with parliamentarians and mobilizations led to this point of registering the proposal in the Chamber. 

At a press conference on Tuesday, the deputy said that this scale is considered obsolete. 

"There are already political and economic indicators showing that there is indeed a possibility of rethinking this workday, as has been done in other places in the world, applying it to our reality," he argued. 

The congresswoman said she intends to meet with the Speaker of the House, Representative Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), after Carnival to discuss the issue and deliver a petition that already has almost 3 million signatures requesting an end to the 6x1 work schedule. 

"Now it remains to be seen whether the National Congress will have political interest and responsibility for the lives of Brazilian workers and whether it will give the necessary attention so that this text gains a rapporteur, so that the special committee can be established and so that we have the conditions to hold this debate as it should be," said Erika.  

She assured that the PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment) has the support of several parties, including those from the center and the right. "This dismantles the idea that only the left is engaged in this discussion. I think the only ones not engaged in this debate are the far-right." She said that the proposal had received the signatures of two PL (Liberal Party) deputies, but, following party instructions, their support was withdrawn. 

The PEC amends section XII of article 7 of the Brazilian Constitution, which would come into force with the following wording: “normal working hours not exceeding eight hours per day and thirty-six hours per week, with a four-day work week, with the possibility of compensating for working hours and reducing working hours, through an agreement or collective bargaining agreement”. 

The debate on reducing working hours has been gaining momentum from the Life Beyond Work Movement (VAT), founded by Rio de Janeiro city councilman Rick Azevedo (Psol), and which has mobilized demonstrations and actions to end the 6x1 work schedule.

“The market cries about the 'lack of labor,' but doesn't want to admit the obvious: people are tired of being beasts of burden. The 6x1 work schedule destroys health, steals time from life, and pays poorly. Nobody wants to get sick to enrich their boss,” Azevedo stated on social media. 

The councilman called on the public to protest during the May 1st holiday, demanding a change in work schedules. "On May 2nd, stay home to protest these slave-like schedules. I'm very happy with today's protocol, but there's still a lot of fighting to do." 

For a Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) to be approved in the Chamber of Deputies, it needs the votes of at least 308 of the 513 deputies, in two rounds of voting. The measure has divided opinions., both within the employer and union sectors. 

Critics say the measure would lead to an increase in companies' operating costs, according to the employers' association National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC). 

At today's press conference, Congressman Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP) said he will seek the government's support to secure the necessary votes to pass the proposed amendment in Congress. The government leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Congressman José Guimarães (PT-CE), assured that he will work hard to negotiate the proposal both inside and outside the plenary. 

Other proposals

At least two other PECs address the reduction of working hours in the National Congress, but they do not end the 6 for 1 working day, which is the main demand for VAT.

Presented in 2019 by Congressman Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG), 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 a reduction in salary. 

Constitutional Amendment Proposal 221 is awaiting the appointment of a rapporteur in the Chamber of Deputies' Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ). It is also possible that the proposed amendment, filed Tuesday by Congresswoman Erika Hilton, will be appended to Congressman Reginaldo Lopes' proposal.