The discussion about the end of the 6×1 scale continues to mobilize a relevant part of the Brazilian electorate and may cross ideological boundaries. Genial/Quaest research released this Monday (18) shows that the majority of the population still supports the proposal being debated in Congress, but the level of support has fallen since the end of last year.
According to the survey, 68% of those interviewed declared themselves in favor of the proposal that reduces the weekly working hours. In December, this percentage was 72%.
The downward movement occurred in different political groups, including among voters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Among Lulistas, support fell from 92% to 76%. Among Bolsonarists, membership fell from 57% to 44%.
Despite this, the proposal continues to find significant support in society and maintains majority support among segments of the center and right not directly aligned with Bolsonarism. In this group, the favorable percentage increased from 52% to 55% since December.
The research also shows that the topic has gained ground in public debate in recent months. In total, 43% of those interviewed said they were closely following discussions on the proposal in Congress. Another 29% said they had heard about the topic, but without directly following the process. Only 27% said they did not follow the debate.
The level of attention is similar among the country’s main political hubs. Among Lula’s voters in 2022, 43% said they follow the proposal closely. Among those who voted for Bolsonaro, the percentage rises slightly to 45%.
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The survey suggests that the discussion about working hours is no longer a topic restricted to unions or specific categories and has started to occupy a broader space in the electoral and economic debate.
Support for the measure, however, decreases when respondents are faced with the possibility of a salary reduction. In this scenario, 56% say they remain in favor of the change, while 39% start to reject the proposal.
The Lula government has tried to neutralize this fear and publicly maintains that salary reductions are not part of the negotiations surrounding the project.
The agenda has gained political strength in recent months and has become part of the government’s electoral strategy for 2026, especially in lower-income segments and urban workers.
The Quaest survey interviewed 2,004 people between May 8th and 11th. The margin of error is two percentage points, with a 95% confidence level. The research is registered with the TSE under number BR-03598/2026.
