Brazil's Senate Approves Shorter Workweek in Win for Lula
BRASILIA — Brazil's Senate approved a constitutional amendment on October 14 to reduce the country's workweek from six days to five, Reuters reported on October 15, providing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a key legislative win less than two weeks before the country's presidential runoff. The amendment, which received the green light from the lower house in May, was backed by lawmakers from across Brazil's political spectrum in the two required Senate votes, including Lula's runoff opponent, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who had once opposed it and reversed course on Tuesday to vote for it.
The amendment lowers working hours in Latin America's largest economy to 40 hours a week from 44, effectively ending a common practice in sectors such as retail of requiring formal employees to work six days a week. The government estimated the new rules will benefit more than 37 million formal-sector workers, with the new standard to be implemented over a 14-month period. It marks the biggest overhaul of Brazilian labour rights in decades.
Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, and his government championed the measure. In a post on X, Lula called the amendment a victory for workers, saying it means more time to live, rest, be with family, watch children grow, take care of oneself and enjoy life. Bolsonaro led Lula in the election's first-round vote earlier this month.
(Source: Reuters)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Steve Evans from Citizen of the World／CC BY 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）
