Brazil’s Senate approved a constitutional reform on Wednesday that shortens the standard work week from 44 to 40 hours and grants workers two paid days off per week instead of one. The measure, which targets working-class Brazilians—many of whom work six days a week under the “6x1” schedule—will be gradually implemented over the next 14 months.

The vote, which concluded the legislative process after prior approval by the Chamber of Deputies, passed overwhelmingly with 75 senators in favor and a single dissenting vote. Senator Omar Aziz, who managed the bill, described the reform as the most significant advancement for Brazilian workers since the 1988 Constitution. Following the vote, some senators expressed vocal support for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has made the measure a central element of his campaign ahead of the upcoming presidential runoff.

President Lula, a former trade union leader, praised the reform as a victory rooted in grassroots demands and longstanding labor aspirations. In a video posted online, he called the achievement a “breakthrough” and insisted the reform “will never be undone.” Lula also criticized his political opponents for what he characterized as opportunistic support on the eve of the runoff election, noting that even some rivals changed their stance to vote in favor.

Among those who shifted positions was Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, who had previously labeled the reform “opportunistic” but ultimately voted to end the 6x1 workweek. Flavio Bolsonaro said he based his decision on conversations with workers nationwide, asserting that most Brazilians favor abandoning the current six-day work schedule.

The reform has been a focal point of recent mass demonstrations backing Lula’s reelection against Jair Bolsonaro, who leads in the polls after the October 4 first round with 47 percent of the vote to Lula’s 45 percent. The runoff, scheduled for October 25, remains highly competitive, with recent polls showing the candidates in a statistical tie.

Conservative lawmakers had pushed for an alternative proposal allowing workers and employers to negotiate weekly hours individually, rather than a mandated reduction. Senator Veneziano Vital do Rego emphasized that the reform’s future impact depends on the outcome of the election, stressing that its continuation will require a government committed to social progress.

While Lula emphasizes labor rights and improved working conditions in his platform, Bolsonaro has focused on plans to reduce public spending, drawing inspiration from Argentina’s right-wing economist Javier Milei. The Senate’s approval of the reduced workweek represents a significant legislative victory for Lula as he prepares for the critical runoff election.