Currently, several proposals on this topic are pending in Congress. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sent a bill to the Legislature with constitutional urgency to end the 6x1 schedule and reduce the workweek from 44 to 40 hours.
The goal is to expand dialogue with the public and strengthen the organization of the working class in local communities. At regional headquarters, rallies will be organized in partnership with local unions. The initiative seeks to bring programs that combine civic engagement, culture, and social mobilization to neighborhoods and municipalities.
Among the issues deemed urgent by CUT for this May Day are the reduction of the workweek without a pay cut, the fight against femicide, the strengthening of collective bargaining as a fundamental tool to ensure concrete improvements in working conditions, and the guarantee of rights for public servants, among others.
For the Brazilian Workers’ Central (CTB), “this year’s May 1st goes beyond a symbolic celebration and serves as a platform for social pressure to bring about concrete changes. Among the issues that should be highlighted are the fight against job insecurity, the need for public policies that strengthen the economy, and the defense of basic rights that guarantee dignity for the working population.”
The General Workers’ Union (UGT) will launch the 12th edition of Expo Paulista, in celebration of Labor Day, on Paulista Avenue. The exhibition will feature 30 panels on the theme “This Is an Achievement: Struggles and Victories of the Brazilian Worker,” created by Brazilian fashion designer Ronaldo Fraga.
Considered the largest open-air exhibition in Latin America, the panels will be on display until May 31, with an expected daily attendance of 1.5 million people.
The exhibition offers a visual reflection on the world of work, its transformations, and the challenges that shape the history of the Brazilian worker.
With activities also scheduled in various cities across the state of São Paulo, the Central of Brazilian Trade Unions (CSB) says they raise greater awareness of the movement’s demands and allow for direct contact with workers, thereby expanding grassroots mobilization.
With no European Union tariffs, Brazilian companies will be able to sell most of their products to Europe without paying import duties, reducing costs and increasing their competitiveness against competitors from other countries.
Of the 2,932 products that will have zero tariffs from the outset:
Among the sectors expected to feel the greatest positive impact are:
In the case of the machinery and equipment sector, for example, nearly 96 percent of Brazilian exports to Europe will now enter duty-free. This includes products such as compressors, industrial pumps, and mechanical parts.
The agreement is considered strategic because it significantly expands Brazil’s commercial reach. Currently, countries with which Brazil has trade agreements account for about 9 percent of global imports. With the European Union’s entry, that figure could rise to more than 37 percent.
In addition, the treaty provides greater predictability for companies, with clear rules on trade, government procurement, and technical standards.
Despite the immediate impact, not all products will have tariffs eliminated at once. For more sensitive items, the reduction will be phased in gradually:
The agreement’s entry into force marks only the beginning of its implementation. The Brazilian government must still regulate details such as the distribution of export quotas among Mercosur countries.
In addition, business associations from both blocs are expected to create a committee to monitor the agreement’s implementation and help companies seize new opportunities.
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