May rules now require Brazilian employers to include psychosocial risks in workplace Risk Management Programmes, expanding safety compliance to burnout, excessive workloads, unachievable targets and workplace conflict.
2.3 million labour cases were filed in 2025, up 8.47% from 2024, as rising employment, employer compliance gaps and lower barriers to claims helped revive litigation.
Employers that fail to adapt face fines, class actions and public civil claims, increasing pressure on legal, compliance and HR teams ahead of Brazil’s October 2026 elections.
A separate Senate push to cut the workweek from 44 to 40 hours and a pending Supreme Court ruling on contractor classification could further reshape Brazil’s labour landscape over the next year.