Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro backs end to six-day workweek

Key facts

• Flavio Bolsonaro will back a reform to reduce Brazil's workweek to 40 hours from 44.
• The reform effectively ends the practice of a six-day workweek in some sectors.
• Nearly 70% of Brazilians support the change, according to a July poll.
• Bolsonaro reversed his previous opposition to the measure.
• The Senate was expected to vote on the reform the day after Bolsonaro's announcement.

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro announced Tuesday that he will support a popular labor reform to reduce the country's workweek, reversing his previous opposition. The measure, which would lower working hours to 40 per week from 44, is seen as a significant overhaul of Brazilian labor rights.

Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, stated his decision was driven by the desire of most Brazilian workers to end the six-day workweek. He added that the government would need to offset potential impacts on businesses. The reform was approved by Brazil's lower house in May and was expected to be voted on by the Senate the day after Bolsonaro's announcement.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration had been pushing for a Senate vote before the upcoming presidential runoff election on October 25, in which Bolsonaro is facing Lula. A nationwide poll in July found that nearly 70% of Brazilians support the proposed change.

Leandro Gabiati, director at political consultancy Dominium, suggested that Bolsonaro's move was politically astute, as it avoids alienating voters on an issue with broad popular appeal. He also noted that business groups, while having reservations, would likely not feel betrayed by Bolsonaro's decision, given their broader ideological opposition to Lula's government.