{"text":[[{"start":7.48,"text":"Brazilian lawmakers have voted to abolish a six-day working week in Latin America’s largest economy, delivering on a signature pledge by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva just over a week before the leftwinger faces an election run-off."}],[{"start":21.88,"text":"Senators in Brasília passed a constitutional amendment late on Wednesday that will reduce maximum weekly employment hours from 44 to 40, with no cuts to wages. Eligible workers will now be guaranteed two days of paid rest a week. Currently, around 15mn people with formal jobs in Brazil only have one day off in every seven, according to the labour ministry."}],[{"start":45.12,"text":"The legislative approval is a win for Lula, as the 80-year-old former trade unionist heads into a second-round ballot against rightwing senator Flávio Bolsonaro on October 25."}],[{"start":56.28,"text":"The 45-year-old son of jailed ex-president Jair Bolsonaro is the favourite to win the tiebreaker. He came out top in a first round earlier this month with 47 per cent of votes versus Lula’s 45 per cent, but short of an absolute majority required for victory."}],[{"start":72.4,"text":"Lula called the labour reform a “historic achievement”."}],[{"start":75.4,"text":"“Those who work so hard to build Brazil also deserve to have time to live. It is a victory for the workers,” the president, who is serving a third non-consecutive term, posted on social media."}],[{"start":86.96,"text":"Allies of Lula hope the constitutional amendment will provide momentum to the veteran politician in the final stretch of the presidential race. Flávio Bolsonaro had long opposed the reform but this week changed his mind and, along with many of his Senate allies, voted in favour of the overhaul."}],[{"start":103.6,"text":"Murilo Medeiros, a political scientist at the University of Brasília, said the electoral impact might be limited as workers would only start to feel the benefits after the election."}],[{"start":114.24,"text":"“While it may breathe new life into Lula’s campaign, the approval of the constitutional amendment is unlikely to reverse — in such a short time — the political damage caused by the high cost of living and household debt,” he added."}],[{"start":126.48,"text":"Gig economy workers, such as app drivers without a formal contract, will not be covered by the new legislation."}],[{"start":132.12,"text":"Ending the six-day working week will bring Brazil in line with many higher-income nations, where working hours have shortened as productivity and efficiency have improved."}],[{"start":141.6,"text":"However, business groups have warned that it will increase costs for companies, with negative knock-on effects for the wider economy."}],[{"start":149.4,"text":"Sectors especially exposed to disruption include retail, cleaning, restaurants, bars and hotels."}],[{"start":155.56,"text":"“It could result in job cuts, falls in [business] revenues and inflationary pressure,” said Sergio Vale, chief economist MB Associados. “The reform is positive from the perspective of workers, but it needs more time to be implemented.”"}],[{"start":169.82,"text":"The law is expected to be enacted in the coming days. Once it is, employers will have 60 days to move to a five-day working week with a maximum of 42 hours, before transitioning to a 40-hour arrangement 12 months later."}],[{"start":187.05,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1792047773_2382.mp3"}