The approval of ending the 6×1 schedule by the Senate, on Wednesday (14), was treated by the international press as a victory for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), 11 days before the runoff.
Agencies and foreign newspapers also noted the favorable vote by Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), Lula’s opponent in the race, who opposed the proposal until the start of the campaign. Flávio, however, has already indicated that, if elected, he may reverse the change.
The Reuters agency classified the result as an important legislative achievement for Lula and pointed to the support of lawmakers from different political fields. According to the agency, Flávio and the PL argued for months that the measure had been designed to favor the president’s reelection.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Flávio voted remotely while campaigning in the South of the country. According to analysts consulted by the agency, allies of the senator refrained from blocking the proposal to avoid him facing wear in the tight race.
Also according to the AP, the transition deadline will be the main sticking point in negotiations, since businessmen and some lawmakers wanted gradual implementation over ten years. The approved text gives 14 months to companies.
European coverage was similar. The British The Guardian linked Flávio’s change of position to popular support for the reform, while the French Le Monde contextualized Lula’s victory in Congress amid the second round of Brazil’s presidential elections, scheduled for October 25. Deutsche Welle (DW), for its part, said that the reduction in the workweek could give Lula a boost in the electoral race.
The proposal approved yesterday passed two rounds with the same tally, 75 votes to 1. Since the senators kept the text approved by the Chamber in May, the amendment goes straight to promulgation, without presidential sanction.
In the coming months, the calendar will be as follows: the maximum workweek will drop from 44 to 42 hours per week 60 days after promulgation, while the reduction to 40 hours will occur one year later. In both scenarios, the new constitutional text states that there should be no salary reduction.
