🇧🇷 Brazil · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
Brazilian employment under the CLT is highly protective: a national minimum wage, 30 days' paid vacation plus a one-third holiday bonus, a 13th salary, and the FGTS severance fund. Your job is registered in the carteira de trabalho; dismissal without cause triggers an FGTS penalty, and disputes go to the labour courts (Justiça do Trabalho).
Employment is governed by the Consolidation of Labour Laws (CLT), overseen by the Ministry of Labour and Employment; hires are reported through the eSocial system.
- The CLT sets working hours, paid leave, the 13th salary and FGTS contributions.
- Employers report payroll and labour events through eSocial.
- A national minimum wage applies and is adjusted periodically.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get your job registered (carteira)
Your employment must be recorded in the digital work card (carteira de trabalho), which formalises your rights.
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
You must receive at least the minimum wage (or a higher category floor); the standard is 8 hours a day / 44 a week, with overtime at a premium.
- 3
Understand leave and bonuses
You get 30 days' paid vacation a year plus a one-third holiday bonus, and a 13th salary paid at year end.
- 4
Register for FGTS and social security
Your employer deposits FGTS (a severance fund) monthly and you contribute to social security (INSS).
- 5
Know the dismissal rules
Dismissal without cause entitles you to your FGTS balance plus a 40% penalty and notice; dismissal for cause is limited to defined grounds.
- 6
Resolve disputes at the labour court
Bring employment claims to the labour courts (Justiça do Trabalho).
Checklist
- Job registered in the carteira de trabalho
- Minimum wage / category floor
- 8h/day, 44h/week + premium overtime
- 30 days' vacation + 1/3 bonus + 13th salary
- FGTS deposits + INSS contributions
- Dismissal rules (FGTS + 40% penalty on no-cause)
- Anti-discrimination protections
- Dispute route (Justiça do Trabalho)
Official authorities
- Ministry of Labour and Employment
Labour law and standards.
Frequently asked questions
What is FGTS?
A government severance fund into which the employer deposits a percentage of your salary each month; you can withdraw it on dismissal without cause (with a 40% penalty added).
What is the 13th salary?
An extra month's salary paid at the end of the year, usually in two instalments.
How much vacation do I get?
30 days of paid vacation a year, plus a one-third holiday bonus on top.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.