Brazil Senate approves PEC 221/2019: 5x2 shift to raise retail labor costs 20-22%

Brazil's Senate approved PEC 221/2019, reducing the workweek from 44 to 40 hours and shifting from 6x1 to 5x2 shifts, with 75 votes to 1. The Institute for Retail Development (IDV) estimates retail labor costs will rise 20-22%, pressuring margins and potentially accelerating automation. The bill now moves to promulgation, with implementation details and economic impact still uncertain.