Study by the Ministry of Labor shows that the average impact on payroll is 4.7%, considered “feasible”
The Minister of Labor and Employment, said this Tuesday (10.mar.2026) at the CCJ (Commission for the Constitution of Justice) that the Brazilian economy supports 40 hours a week and not 36 hours a week, as established by the PEC of .
Marinho stated that the reduction in working hours is “completely feasible and sustainable” and that “this talk of strangulation or difficulty for the Brazilian economy” that the end of the scale could result “had it since slavery”. The minister said that the federal government defends the reduction to and that “it would not be possible to implement 36 hours immediately”as established by the PEC.
In the minister’s assessment, reducing working hours prevents mental illnesses and improves the work environment and, therefore, increases productivity. He advocates finding a balance. “The Government wants calm in the debate and down to earth, but that is consistent with the speed at which the population asks for the reduction”.
The government will not talk about compensation at this time, according to Marinho. The Minister of Finance, must speak at a committee hearing and comment on the matter.
Impact on payroll
The Undersecretary of Labor Statistics and Studies at the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Paula Montagner, presented data on the impact on the payroll. She said the average impact will be 4.7%, which is “doable”.
Montagner also stated that a 5 x 2 scale “is already the rule”, of the 53.3 million CLT workers, ⅔ work in this model. In relation to workers who work on the 6 X 1 scale, 35% work in micro and small companies; 33.7% in large companies; in domestic employment it is 3%; and 35.4% in agriculture.
According to the ministry, the payroll impact for each sector will be:
- Water transport and food – 10.5%
- Agriculture, construction and commerce – 7.8% to 8.6%
- Micro and small companies – 5.9%
- Services sector – 1.6%
