Boulos says that Alcolumbre did not sign an agreement on the end of the 6x1 scale

"There has been no commitment made. We expect that commitment to be made in the coming weeks," Boulos said.

According to him, the government will have two weeks of concentrated effort in Congress before the elections to try to move forward with the matter.

The minister also said that there will be social mobilizations next Monday, the 10th, in all the country's capitals in favor of the agenda.

Lula and Alcolumbre met on Tuesday night, the 4th, after three and a half months without talking. The meeting took place during a dinner hosted by the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes, with the aim of bringing the two together again.

Boulos stated that the end of the 6x1 scale is the government's main legislative priority in this second semester and said that the decision was taken at a ministerial meeting and endorsed by Lula. "There are several other issues that we consider important, but the main priority is the end of the 6x1 scale", he declared at a press conference after a meeting with representatives of trade unions, unions and popular movements, in São Paulo (SP).

The PEC has been stuck in the Senate for two months and a week, after being approved in two rounds by the Chamber of Deputies on May 27th. The proposal establishes the immediate adoption of the 5x2 scale and the initial reduction of working hours from 44 to 42 hours per week, with a subsequent reduction to 40 hours.

According to Boulos, postponing the vote until after the elections would increase the risk of the text being changed to extend the transition period, create compensation for employers or allow salary reductions. "Whoever wants to postpone this until after the election wants to bet on the voter's oblivion," he stated.

The minister attributed this strategy to the national president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto. In Boulos' assessment, parliamentarians would have more difficulty voting against the proposal before the elections due to the repercussions among workers, but could change their position after the election.

The government's expectation is that Alcolumbre will send the PEC to the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ), where a rapporteur will be appointed. After analysis by the collegiate, the text may go to the Senate plenary.

Boulos also stated that the government will not accept new changes to the content of the PEC approved by the Chamber. "We will no longer negotiate text", he declared. According to the minister, the proposal is already the result of a negotiation that initially reduced the working day to 42 hours a week and established a transition to 40 hours.