By Fernando Cardoso
SAO PAULO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro on Tuesday said he would back a popular labor reform to reduce the country's workweek, reversing his position in a bid to avoid handing a political win to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his leftist opponent in Brazil's presidential elections.
The measure, approved by Brazil's lower house in May as a constitutional amendment, would lower working hours in Latin America's largest economy to 40 hours a week from
44, effectively ending a common practice in some sectors, like retail, of requiring employees to work six days a week.
Bolsonaro, the son of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, defied pollsters at the start of the month to lead President Lula in the first round of Brazil's election by securing 47% of votes cast. The two men will face each other in a runoff on October 25.
Cutting the workweek would mark the biggest overhaul in Brazilian labor rights in decades and a nationwide poll conducted by Quaest in July found nearly 70% of Brazilians support the change.
While the senator and his Liberal Party, PL, had long opposed cutting the workweek, arguing the move was designed to boost Lula's reelection prospects, Bolsonaro changed course on Tuesday, just a day before the Senate was expected to vote on the matter.
"Most Brazilian workers want to see the end of the six-day workweek, so I'm going to vote in favor of ending it," Bolsonaro told journalists, adding that the government would need to offset impacts on business.
Lawmakers aligned with Lula have pushed for a Senate vote before the runoff, hoping to secure approval while the president remains in office.
"It seems to me that, following public pressure and street protests, PL decided to vote in favor of ending the six-day workweek," Lula said during an official event on Tuesday.
The PL has yet to formally announce a change to its position.
"Despite Flavio's lead, the race is still wide open. So it's a smart move by him in avoiding wearing down support on an issue that has broad popular appeal," Leandro Gabiati, director at political consultancy Dominium, said.
While business groups say the measure could increase costs and hurt competitiveness, they will not be left too disappointed by Flavio's decision, Gabiati said.
"The business community still has many ideological and practical reservations about this government," he said. "It will not feel betrayed by Flavio's change."
(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Oliver Griffin)
