Brazil Approves 40-Hour Workweek

Brazil>>>'s lower house approved a constitutional amendment establishing a 40-hour, five-day workweek, ending the previous 44-hour, six-day system without reducing pay for at least 37 million people. This move, championed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva>>> and popular ahead of presidential elections, guarantees two consecutive 24-hour rest days. Businesses are given 14 months to adapt, a compromise from initial demands for a 10-year transition. The amendment now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Opposition lawmakers like Kim Kataguiri>>> expressed concerns about the impact on companies and potential hiring freezes, while proponents like Paulo Pimenta>>> and Leo Prates>>> emphasized justice for workers. This change aligns Brazil>>> with other Latin American nations like Mexico>>> and Chile>>> that have recently shortened workweeks, though Argentina>>> under Javier Milei>>> is moving in the opposite direction with labor overhauls that could extend working hours.