Brasília – A study presented by researchers at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) on March 1, 2026, projects that reducing the work week in Brazil from 44 to 36 hours could create up to 4.5 million new jobs. The findings, released as the “Dossier 6×1,” suggest a potential increase in national productivity of approximately 4 percent, driven by improvements in employee quality of life and performance.
The research indicates that a shorter work week would significantly decrease exposure to hazardous working conditions and reduce the risk of workplace accidents. Researchers emphasize the connection between adequate rest and the fundamental right to health, advocating for a better balance between professional and personal life. Currently, approximately 21 million Brazilians work more than 44 hours per week, placing the country among those with the highest work hours globally, with 76.3 percent of employees working over 40 hours weekly.
Experts argue that the reduction in working hours is an effective tool for combating unemployment and modernizing the national production system. The study challenges conventional economic models that assume a direct correlation between reduced working hours and decreased national output, citing the significant increase in labor performance following the reduction of the work week in 1988.
The findings come as Brazil’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) recently adopted a framework for implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP), a move intended to protect the dignity, autonomy, and territorial rights of rural workers. The CNDH’s Recommendation No. 5/2025, published on June 5, 2025, urges the Brazilian state to observe, disseminate, and enforce the UNDROP. This framework recognizes the importance of the UNDROP as a parameter for state action, particularly in addressing the intensive exploitation of land and natural resources.
The debate over working conditions in Brazil similarly occurs amidst the broader context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on labor relations and mental health. A doctoral thesis from the University of Valladolid, completed in 2025, highlights the require for preventative legal frameworks to protect worker health and ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market. The Brazilian Constitution is cited as a landmark in protecting human rights within the labor environment, emphasizing the dignity of the individual and the well-being of workers.
In May 2025, Brazil was recognized internationally for its pioneering efforts in combating child labor, forced labor, modern slavery, and human trafficking. This recognition, announced on May 30, 2025, underscores the country’s commitment to protecting vulnerable workers, with collaboration between the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Health.
