Chamber approves urgency for project that overturns ordinance that restricts work on holidays

The Chamber of Deputies approved on Tuesday night (21) the emergency regime for the draft legislative decree (PDL 405/23) that allows commerce to operate on Sundays and holidays. The proposal, authored by deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD-CE), overturns the Ministry of Labor ordinance, signed last week. The new standard requires the creation of a collective agreement as a requirement for working on Sundays and holidays by commercial employees.

This rule had been waived in 2021 by the Bolsonaro government. The request for urgent processing was approved by 301 votes in favor and 131 against. With approval, the PDL can be voted on directly in the plenary, without having to go through committees. Gastão stated that the new rule was not discussed with employers and could put commerce in several cities at risk. “We defend more time to negotiate and not have an ordinance saying that the lack of a collective agreement could close the doors of commerce,” he said.

Deputy Alencar Santana (PT-SP) criticized the intention to revoke the rule and stated that the National Confederation of Commerce and other entities will meet this Wednesday with the Minister of Labor, Luiz Marinho, reported the Chamber Agency. “This ordinance revokes a rule from the Bolsonaro government to guarantee the right to representation of trade unions. There is nothing wrong with this issue,” said Santana.

Before the session, the president of the Parliamentary Entrepreneurship Front (FPE), deputy Joaquim Passarinho (PL-PA), stated that party leaders would ask for priority in voting on projects to overturn the government ordinance on work on Sundays and holidays. According to Passarinho, 17 draft legislative decrees (PDLs) have already been presented to suspend the ordinance in the Chamber.