Chamber Committee postpones vote on PEC on a 6 X 1 scale

The CCJ (Constitution and Justice Committee) of the Chamber postponed this Wednesday (April 15, 2026) the vote on PECs (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) 221 of 2019 and 8 of 2025, which reduce the weekly working day from 44 to 36 hours.

Deputies Lucas Redecker (PSD-RS) and Bia Kicis (PL-DF) asked for a collective view – more time for analysis. As a result, the vote will have to be rescheduled, with no date set yet.

The opinion presented by the rapporteur, deputy Paulo Azi (União Brasil-BA), was in favor of approval. He also suggested the implementation of a transition phase for the sectors and recommended that payroll taxes be reduced to compensate for the measure.

At this stage of the processing, the constitutionality of the project is assessed. The content must still be created in the special commission, to be installed by the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), after approval by the CCJ.

According to the original proposal, the transition to reduced working hours will take place over 10 years. In other words, if enacted this year, the PEC will only take effect in 2036.

The special committee will have 40 sessions to debate the merits and construct the text. The expectation is that the proposal will go to plenary before the Legislative recess in July.

In parallel, the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) sent on Tuesday (14 April) a bill with constitutional urgency on the same topic.

The Executive’s text, however, will have immediate effect and sets the working day at 40 hours a week and 2 consecutive days off, preferably on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the regulations, a PEC and a PL on the same topic cannot be processed simultaneously. Motta will meet with party leaders to talk about the viability of the 2 projects and which will be prioritized.

As the government sent the PL on an urgent basis, Congress will have 45 days in each House to vote on the project.