The 37.5-hour work week
The reduction of the maximum legal work week from 40 to 37.5 hours is being processed. Prepare your company for the change.
What the new law proposes
From 40 to 37.5 hours per week
The maximum legal work week will go from 40 to 37.5 hours per week on an annual basis, with no salary reduction.
No salary reduction
The reduction in hours cannot result in a proportional salary reduction. Economic conditions are maintained.
Reinforced overtime control
With fewer legal hours, any excess will count as overtime. Time tracking will be even more important.
Collective bargaining
Collective agreements will need to adapt to the new maximum work week. A transition period is expected.
Current status
The proposal to reduce to 37.5 hours was blocked in Congress in September 2025. The Government has indicated it could be approved by decree. The effective date is not yet confirmed.
Tip: regardless of when it's approved, having an accurate time tracking system is essential to manage the change without errors.
How to prepare your company
Review current schedules for all employees
Set up overtime alerts to detect excess early
Generate comparative reports to analyze the impact
Update calendars with the new annual calculations
Frequently asked questions
When does the 37.5-hour work week take effect?+
There is no confirmed date yet. The proposal was blocked in September 2025 and could be approved by decree. We recommend preparing in advance.
Does it affect all companies?+
Yes. The maximum legal work week applies to all companies and employed workers, except for exceptions regulated by collective agreement.
Will salaries be reduced?+
No. The proposal specifies that the reduction in hours does not entail a salary reduction.
How does Ficha.Work help with this change?+
Ficha.Work lets you adjust schedules, track worked hours against expected hours, detect overtime, and generate comparative reports before and after the change.
Prepare your company for the new work week
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