RIO DE JANEIRO — Hundreds of bus drivers on strike protested in downtown Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The striking bus drivers demanded better conditions, increased pay, and an end to the six-day working week.

A proposal to limit the working week to five days is currently in the hands of the Senate after approval from a lower house in May. The constitutional amendment seeks to establish a 40-hour weekly limit without reducing pay. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva backs the proposal as part of his reelection bid in October.

About 14 million Brazilians work six days a week. Currently, many Brazilians work five eight-hour days and another four hours on a sixth day.

Alexandre Garrido, 49, who has been a bus driver for 20 years, described the impact of the current workweek. "You can't spend quality time or go out with your family, give attention to your children, visit relatives, or have a day like going to a restaurant to have lunch together," Garrido said.

Rick Azevedo, a city councilor in Rio who founded the movement Life Beyond Work, attended the protest. "Those who support working six days a week are in favor of modern slavery," Azevedo said. Brazil's National Confederation of Industry argues the annual labor costs could jump by up to 267 billion reais ($52 billion), an increase of up to 7%, if the current workweek is reduced. The organization says the reduction could slow Brazil's economy by 0.7%.