Marcos Pereira, the president of the Republicans party and a deputy from São Paulo, publicly apologized through a video on social media for his comment about how 'too much idleness is bad'. This statement was made in the context of discussing a proposal to eliminate the 6x1 work shift, which he believes could harm economic productivity. In his apology, he emphasized the importance of work-life balance and recognized that his previous remarks did not reflect the respect due to workers in Brazil. He noted, 'I used inappropriate words and acknowledge that my phrases sounded disrespectful to Brazilian workers'.

In his apology, Pereira also shared his personal background of humble beginnings, having worked various jobs throughout his life. He emphasized that he has always believed in the dignity that work provides and acknowledged the necessity of rest and family time for all workers. His assertion that 'too much idleness is bad' was meant to highlight economic impacts but did not resonate well with the public, which led to his reconsideration and subsequent apology.

Furthermore, Pereira mentioned that he had voiced his concerns regarding proposals for reducing work hours to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta. His primary concern is that such reductions could jeopardize the competitiveness of Brazilian companies. This incident highlights the ongoing debate in Brazil regarding labor laws and workers' rights, particularly in terms of balancing economic competitiveness with the well-being of the workforce.