# Law No. 7313 of May 17, 1985

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649964](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649964)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7313-of-may-17-1985

## Summary
Law No. 7313 of May 17, 1985 (Lei nº 7313, de 17 de maio de 1985) is a Brazilian statute that mandates an eight-hour workday for security guards ("vigias"). Promulgated in Brasília by President José Sarney, the law functions as a formal legal document within the Federative Republic of Brazil. It serves as a specific modification to the country's Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 7313, de 17 de maio de 1985
- **Date of Promulgation:** May 17, 1985
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President José Sarney
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Core Provision:** Fixes the workday for watchmen ("vigias") at eight hours ("Fixa em oito horas a jornada de trabalho dos vigias")
- **Main Subject:** Consolidation of Labor Laws (Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho - CLT)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7313/1985
- **Identifier:** Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-17;7313`
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7313.htm`
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What specific labor change did Law No. 7313/1985 introduce?**
This statute legally fixed the working hours for security guards, known in Portuguese as "vigias," at eight hours per day. It functions as a decision and modification concerning the broader Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).

**Who enacted Law No. 7313 and where is it applicable?**
The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President José Sarney on May 17, 1985. It applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil and was published in the capital city of Brasília.

**How is this law classified within the Brazilian legal system?**
It is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law and serves as a manifestation of statutory law. As an edict of government, it is part of the public domain and constitutes a legal act within the Brazilian federal system.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7313 of May 17, 1985, matters because it standardized the working hours for a specific category of professionals—watchmen or security guards—ensuring they were afforded the same eight-hour workday protections standard in other labor sectors. By linking directly to the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), it reinforced the framework of labor rights during Brazil's re-democratization period. As a statute, it represents the exercise of legislative authority to create binding rules, serving as an official record of the government's role in regulating labor conditions during that era.

## Notable For
- **Labor Regulation:** Specifically targeting the "vigia" (watchman) profession to mandate an eight-hour shift.
- **Legal Hierarchy:** Functioning as a statutory modification to the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), the primary labor regulation in Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Being promulgated in 1985 by José Sarney, the first civilian president after the military dictatorship, during the transition to the New Republic.
- **Public Accessibility:** Being a government edict, the text is in the public domain and accessible via official government portals like Planalto.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 7313 of May 17, 1985, is a **statute** (statute), defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the context of legal ontology, it is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a manifestation of statutory law, it contains legal norms and was caused by "legislation." Structurally, it is considered a "legal act" and follows "draft laws" in the legislative process. Like other edicts of government in Brazil, the document is in the public domain, ensuring public accessibility.

### Legislative Content and Purpose
The primary function of this law is described by its digest: **"FIXA EM OITO HORAS A JORNADA DE TRABALHO DOS VIGIAS"** (Fixes the workday of watchmen at eight hours). The law addresses three main subjects:
1.  **Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT):** The law interacts with Brazil's main labor code (Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho).
2.  **Decision:** It establishes a definitive rule regarding working hours.
3.  **Change:** It acts as an alteration to existing labor standards to include this specific provision.

### Promulgation and Authority
The statute was promulgated on **May 17, 1985**, in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** under the administration of **José Sarney**. Sarney assumed office following the end of the military regime, and this law was enacted during the early stages of the "New Republic," reflecting the era's focus on civil rights and labor regulations.

### Jurisdiction and Geographic Context
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (officially the Federative Republic of Brazil), the largest country in South America. At the time of the law's enactment in 1985, Brazil was a federal republic operating under the military constitution of 1967 (amended in 1969), just three years prior to the adoption of the 1988 Constitution. The country is characterized by its vast area of approximately 8.5 million km² and its administrative division into 26 states plus one Federal District (where the law was published).

### Identification and Access
The law is cataloged within Brazilian legal databases with the identifier **Lei nº 7313/1985**. Its specific **Lexml Brazil ID** is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-17;7313`. The full text is maintained online by the Brazilian government and is available at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7313.htm` under the "Leis" (Laws) section of the Civil House archive for the 1980-1988 period. It is listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its relevance to structured knowledge management of Brazilian legislation. The language of the text is **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-17;7313)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7313&ano=1985&data=17/05/1985&ato=14cUzYq5keBpWT7ea)
3. LexML Brasil