The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the mayor, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), should have a decisive meeting this Monday (25) to debate the proposal of the end of the day 6×1. The meeting aims to reach an understanding of the transition rule for changing weekly working hours.
The impasse over the transition led to the postponement of the proposal’s opinion last week. The report should be presented this Monday by the deputy Leo Prates (Republiacanos-BA). The meeting between Lula and Hugo must also include the participation of the rapporteur and ministers Luiz Marinho (Labor and Employment) and José Guimarães (Institutional Relations Secretariat).
The PEC (proposed amendment to the Constitution) aims to end the 6×1, a working day of six days and one day off. The agenda is considered a electoral asset and is a priority for the government and for Hugo Motta. The intention of the President of the Chamber is vote on the text this week and send the proposal for analysis by the Senate.
The understanding already agreed, according to the rapporteur, is to reduce the current 44 hours per week to 40 hourswithout salary losses and with the guarantee of two days off for the worker. The transition, however, still lacks consensus.
The government’s defense is for the reduction to come into effect immediately as soon as it is approved by the National Congress. The resistance of productive sectors and pressure from businesspeople, however, weighs heavily on the Executive to admit to negotiating a possible two year transition.
Members of the opposition and some parliamentarians from the center aim for a longer transition, fearing possible economic impacts. Two amendments were suggested so that implementation would last 10 years. The idea, however, is rejected by the rapporteur. Prates said.
The negative repercussion of the suggestion made center leaders decide to withdraw one of the amendments presented. Currently on the negotiating table is a possible two to five years of transition. There is a rush to define an agreement, since Leo Prates, endorsed by Hugo Motta, foresees the vote in the special committee and in the plenary next Thursday (28).
On the one hand, the lack of consensus on the transition worries the text’s organizers, who fear difficulties in obtaining minimum support for plenary approval, where they are needed. 308 votes in two shifts. On the other hand, the PEC is seen as a topic with broad popular support and, therefore, some parliamentarians are betting on its approval.
In his report, Prates wants to create a “lean” and objective text, with a general rule for changes in the journey. Among other points, he must determine that the two days off come into force in 2026. These days off, however, should not necessarily be consecutive, as government allies initially defended.
More specific rules must be addressed through a bill, which was sent by the government. This article should bring infraconstitutional nuances and predictions aimed at sectors with different working hours, such as the airline sector, health sector and people who work on board.
Hugo Motta’s desire was for the PEC and the project to “walk together”. Some of the deputies assess, however, that the electoral period should make it difficult to advance the government’s project and could even be an obstacle for the PEC in the Senate.
