End of 6x1: Industry predicts a drop in productivity and competitiveness with a reduction in working hours

Research released this Thursday (2) by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) shows that 70% of the country's industries predict a drop in competitiveness if the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that puts an end to the so-called 6x1 scale is approved by the National Congress.
In addition, according to the CNI, 68% estimate that there will be a drop in productivity.
Defended by the government, PEC has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and is now in the Senate, but there is still no set date for it to be voted on (see details of the proposal below).
Senate debates the end of the 6x1 scale
As it is a proposal that changes the Constitution, it needs to be submitted to two rounds of voting and obtain the minimum support of three-fifths of parliamentarians, that is, 49 among the 81 senators.
➡ Among other points, the text approved by the Chamber provides:
End of the 6x1 scale, moving to 5x2 - with a transition of 2 months;
Reduction of working hours from 44 to 42 hours a week - with a transition of 2 months;
Reduction of working hours from 42 to 40 hours a week - with a transition of 12 months.
Prohibition of reduction of salary
According to the CNI, the entity's research with representatives of the sector shows the following results in relation to the proposal:
85% adopt a 44-hour week;
97% will be impacted by the legal reduction in working hours;
85% project an increase in employee costs;
82% estimate an increase in costs with suppliers;
70% foresee a loss of competitiveness;
68% see a risk of a drop in the volume of production;
73% reject the reduction in working hours.
In total, according to the entity, representatives of 1,664 companies from the small, medium and large industrial sector were interviewed, between March 2nd and 11th.
End of the 6x1 scale: how companies anticipate changes in working hours in the Campinas region
Reproduction/EPTV
When participating in a hearing in the Senate, the president of the CNI, Ricardo Alban, said It is necessary to think about measures that guarantee that the internal market is "strong" and "competitive".
"Products from abroad have to help us to be competitive, productive and efficient, but not for us to be left behind by a reality of loss of competitiveness", he stated.
In a meeting with representatives of the trade unions this Wednesday, the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), defended the end of the transition period foreseen in the proposal approved by the Chamber.
The President of the Senate, however, is discussing with his legislative advisor the possibility of a drafting amendment so that the reduction in working hours and the end of the 6x1 scale come into effect immediately after the promulgation of the text.
Government defends approval
When participating in a debate session on the topic in the Senate, this Wednesday (1st), the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Paulo Pereira, spoke out in favor of the PEC that puts an end to the 6x1 scale, stating that the proposal has the capacity to generate more business for families.
"Many entrepreneurs in Brazil are part-time entrepreneurs. With more time, we will even see an increase in entrepreneurship in Brazil. Many of these part-time entrepreneurs will work more, generate more income for their families, bring more money home, become more qualified and develop various businesses, which are dependent on free time", declared the minister.
What the proposal says
The proposal approved by the Chamber amends the part of the Federal Constitution that deals with Fundamental Rights and Guarantees and makes it clear that the "duration of normal work" will not exceed eight hours per day and forty hours per week.
The article provides for exceptions when allowing compensation of hours and reduction of working hours in accordance with the agreement or collective bargaining agreement.
According to the proposal, the reduction of four hours in the working day will be implemented in two stages:
the first two hours within two months after the promulgation of the PEC;
the remaining two hours within 12 months after the reduction of the first two hours.
⏳The end of the 6x1 scale, with the guarantee of at least two days off per week, preferably on Sundays, will come into force 60 days after the promulgation of the text.
The transition period was the main point of discussion of the PEC. Businesspeople and employer confederations asked for time to adapt to the measure.
The government, at first, was against the transition, but reached an agreement to allow the gradual implementation of the reduction in working hours.
➡ The rapporteur of the proposal in the Chamber determined that, after 60 days of promulgation, all conventions and collective agreements that were included. hours that are incompatible with the new working hours will automatically lose their validity.
This point will serve as a barrier to force unions and companies to sit at the negotiating table.
The rule is not universal
Workers who have a higher education degree and earn from two and a half times the INSS ceiling - currently around R$ 21.1 thousand - will be excluded from the new rules established by the PEC.
For these professionals, the working hours and time control rules will not apply. The exclusion took place under the argument of combating "pejotization" and giving freedom to high-income professionals.
In the opinion of economists, the debate in the federal government and the National Congress needs to be accompanied by discussions about productivity gains which, according to them, will come mainly with increased worker qualifications, innovation and investments in improvements in infrastructure and logistics.

Source: G1