Called the “6x1 Dossier,” the document concludes that Brazil “is ready to work less,” contradicting market projections that the change could cause a drop in gross domestic product (GDP) and worsen levels of corporate insolvency. The study also refutes the idea that Brazilians work less than the global media.

The dossier comprises 37 articles, written by 63 authors, including professors, researchers, members of the judiciary, labor inspectors, and union representatives. Eighteen reviewers also participated in its preparation. The material is being published weekly simultaneously on 19 websites, including the IE website.

Check out the published dossier.

Conducted by researchers at Cesit based on the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua) from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the study shows that approximately 21 million workers in the country work more than the 44 hours per week stipulated in the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). It also indicates that 76.3% of employed people in Brazil work more than 40 hours per week, with 58.7% of all workers working between 40 and 44 hours per week. According to one expert, this is evidence that Brazilians are among the hardest working people in the world.

Marilane Teixeira points out that there are niches of workers, in areas such as education, health, public service and industry, with working hours of less than 44 hours per week, but she makes a reservation:

"We're not talking about that contingent. There's a segment of the workforce that works between 45 and 49 hours a week, or 58.7% that works between 40 and 44 hours. If reduction is already possible in several sectors, why can't it happen in commerce and services?", the professor asks.

The economist's diagnosis also shows that around 4.5 million people are in what is called underemployment. "They would like to work more, but they can't find jobs," she says.

"Furthermore, we have a very high level of informality, which generally far exceeds 44 hours. There are also cases of overtime. Since the labor reforms of 2017, the possibility of paying overtime through a time bank, and not in salaries, has been opened," she recalls. "This argument that Brazil already works little definitely doesn't hold water," says the economist.

A   reduction of working hours It is expected to be voted on in Congress later this semester. One of the proposals under consideration prohibits the so-called 6x1 schedule (one day off for every six days of work), updating it to 4x3 (four days of work and three days off each week). According to the study, this change would directly affect 76 million workers.

Even if the reduction is to 40 hours per week, on a 5x2 schedule – as certain sectors of Congress want – the change would still affect the lives of approximately 45 million workers. The last change in this regard occurred almost 38 years ago, with the 1988 Constitution, when the legal work week in Brazil dropped from 48 hours to the current 44 hours.

The study assesses the repercussions of changes in working hours on household consumption, public policies aimed at reducing racial and gender inequalities, and worker illness rates.

“In 2024, we had half a million absences due to psychosocial illnesses resulting from unfavorable working conditions,” argues the professor. “And we are talking about formal employment. This doesn't refer to the other half of the working class who are self-employed or in the informal sector and who are also subjected to exhausting and stressful working conditions,” she says.

"Therefore, the end of the 6x1 work schedule is a cry, a plea for help. These workers want to live beyond work and want the right to leisure," he announced.

Tax relief Lock it.

A professora da Unicamp lembra que o setor empresarial, com muita frequência, recorre ao Estado brasileiro quando precisa enfrentar mudanças estruturais. Em geral, vai em busca de isenções, incentivos ou desonerações.

"Isso é histórico. Faz parte do perfil da classe dominante do Brasil", diz ela "Ela não quer ceder nem um milímetro sequer. Não quer perder absolutamente nada", acrescenta. "Mas o governo não tem de ceder em absolutamente nada, porque esse setor ganhou muito nas últimas décadas. O que temos de fazer agora é reverter esses ganhos justamente em benefício do trabalhador", recomenda.

Segundo ela, observações e variações pessimistas também aconteceram quando a implantação de políticas como o salário mínimo, a instituição do 13º salário e outros temas que envolvem a luta pelos direitos trabalhistas, como o registro dos trabalhadores domésticos.

País pronto para redução da jornada

Para o grupo de economistas e pesquisadores, o Brasil está pronto para a redução da jornada. Teixeira lembra que a última mudança ocorreu justamente na década de 1980, em uma conjuntura muito mais desfavorável que a de hoje.

"Nos anos 80, a economia brasileira andava de ré. Foi uma década considerada perdida, com queda do PIB, taxa de desemprego alta, inflação elevada, dívida externa. Do ponto de vista econômico, um desastre e, mesmo assim, se prejudica a jornada para 44 horas semanais", pondera.

"Nem por isso as empresas quebraram, nem por isso gerou-se desemprego. Não há estudo que aponte que a redução da jornada para 44 horas semanais nos anos 80 im aplicadas queda do PIB ou taxa de desemprego mais alta", desafia.

"So it's not going to happen now, with technological advances, in a context of full employment, with economic growth and the level of technology we have, that it will be possible in Brazil to reduce it to 40 hours," he argues.

She points out that labor productivity grew at an average annual rate. Raka ai increased by 6.5% between the years 1990 and 2000. This was due to investments in technology, worker training, and company reorganization.

Another factor caught the researcher's attention. "People no longer want to work such long hours. Today, many companies are already using the 5x2 work schedule as an attractive option," she said.

The professor says it's a mistake to imagine that the reduction will paralyze the economy. "They (the market) designed it as if the economy would be paralyzed for three days and only function for four, which isn't true," she argues.