Brazil minister insists on pre-election vote to end 6x1 work shift, contradicting colleagues
Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Brazilian Minister Guilherme Boulos stated the government will push to vote on ending the 6x1 work shift before the elections, contradicting other ministers.
- The proposal, a key part of President Lula's agenda, faces delays in the Senate due to a dispute between Lula and Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.
- Some ministers believe the bill is unlikely to be voted on this year due to political gridlock.
Guilherme Boulos, Brazil's Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, has asserted that the government will continue to prioritize the vote on ending the 6x1 work shift before the upcoming elections. This stance directly contrasts with statements made by other ministers, including Institutional Relations Minister Josรฉ Guimarรฃes, who suggested the bill would likely only be voted on after the elections.
The proposal to end the 6x1 shift, which allows for six consecutive workdays followed by one day off, is a significant agenda item for President Lula's administration and a central theme for the Workers' Party (PT) campaign. The government had initially aimed for approval in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate before the elections.
The government will insist on voting to end the 6x1 shift before the election as a priority agenda.
However, the legislative process has been stalled in the Senate since May. A political dispute between President Lula and Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has reportedly delayed the bill's progression. Alcolumbre has not indicated when he might send the matter to the Constitution and Justice Committee, leading to uncertainty about its future.
With the election year in full swing, several ministers have expressed skepticism about the bill's chances of being debated and voted upon by senators. Labor Minister Luiz Marinho, for instance, recently suggested that Alcolumbre's perceived "bad faith" is hindering the bill's advancement, making a vote this year unlikely. The government's push to pass the legislation before the elections highlights its importance as a campaign promise.
The bill is unlikely to be voted on this year due to bad faith from Alcolumbre.
Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.