Reuters · October 15, 2026

Brazil Senate Approves Constitutional Amendment Reducing the Workweek to 40 Hours From 44

• Brazil’s Senate approved a constitutional amendment on Wednesday, in the two required votes, to reduce the workweek from six days to five, according to the report. The lower house gave the amendment its approval in May.
• The amendment lowers working hours to 40 hours a week from 44, according to the report.
• The government had estimated the new rules would benefit more than 37 million formal-sector workers, with the new standard to be implemented over a 14-month period, according to the report.
• Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s runoff opponent, voted for the amendment after reversing course on Tuesday, according to the report. Lula called the amendment a victory for workers in a post on X, according to the report.

Vote, hours figures, government estimate and statements via the original report. This card is based on the accessible portion only. Original headline: "Brazil's Senate approves shorter workweek in win for Lula".