Changing the working day to a 6×1 scale is a natural trend, points out Alckmin

The vice-president of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin, stated this Sunday (26) that the change in the 6×1 work scale in Brazil is a natural process and seen in several parts of the world, given technological advancement and the modernization of productive sectors. According to him, the current 44-hour working day tends to be revised gradually, driven by increased productivity

During a press conference after the official opening of the 31st Agrishow 2026, in Ribeirão Preto (SP), Alckmin cited agribusiness as an example of this change. He recalled that, in the past, sugarcane cutting in the Ribeirão Preto region was done manually, requiring prior burning of the crop, which left the city covered in smoke. Today, with the ban on burning and the mechanization of harvesting, the scenario has completely changed, with raw sugarcane being harvested.

According to the vice president, The replacement of manual activity by machines also ended up changing the profile of workers in the field. “We no longer have a sugarcane cutter. We have a technologist and a specialist in precision agriculture”, he stated. For him, technological innovation makes it possible to produce more with less labor, requiring professional qualifications and new roles in the sector, which would therefore allow a reduction in the weekly work schedule, a topic that is still controversial in agribusiness.

Alckmin highlighted, however, that the transition needs to respect the characteristics of each economic segment. He noted that several sectors already operate with 40-hour work weeks, while others still require specific adaptations.

The vice-president defended that the issue be debated in the National Congress, responsible for building a balanced solution on the issue. “The tendency is for us to move away from the 6 to 1 scale, but there are sectors with specificities. It is up to Congress to debate and seek the best solution”, he declared.