End of 6x1 Work Schedule Pressures Costs Across Brazilian Sectors

The end of the 6x1 work schedule is mobilizing labor-intensive sectors in Brazil. The National Confederation of Industry projects that the transition to a forty-hour workweek could increase personnel expenses by between R$ 178.2 billion and R$ 267.2 billion per year. This amount represents a rise of up to 7% in operating costs for formal companies.

The education sector estimates an annual financial impact between R$ 7 billion and R$ 12 billion. This calculation accounts for the payment of a second day off for hourly teachers. Educational institutions warn that this structural change could lead to tuition hikes of up to 23%.

In the bar and restaurant segment, Abrasel anticipates a 20% increase in employee expenses. The entity points to the fact that the impact falls primarily on young workers. In the retail sector, the recommendation is for business owners to review schedules and seek union agreements before the final adaptation deadline.

The Supreme Federal Court is analyzing the transition to the new work regime. A preliminary injunction by Justice Flávio Dino allows for a forty-two-hour workweek with two days of rest starting in December 2026. The schedule dictates that the forty-hour weekly limit will only be reached one year later.

The judicial decision establishes a ninety-day negotiation window for unions and companies. The text also sets deadlines for the adjustment of public contracts and requests that Congress define specific rules for micro-enterprises and specialized sectors.