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© 2016 Dwellworks Page 38 Discovering Brazil
Rights of Household Help
 Work Booklet: Must be registered and signed by the employer as required by law.
Employment terms noted on the work booklet form the basis of a myriad of
entitlements. It is very difficult for workers to get a new job without a proven,
registered record/history
- When entering information as the employer, use the head of household’s name.
By signing the work booklet, your domestic help worker will gain coverage for
their family members under the Brazilian Social Security and Health Insurance
System, INSS. This health plan is free to use therefore it is a very important
benefit
 Salary: The employer must pay at least one minimum monthly salary. This figure is
set by law, published, and is adjusted at least once a year. Most families pay well
above this amount. The salary amount must be registered in your worker’s CTPS
booklet and this amount cannot be reduced. Try to keep the work booklet updated
with current salary
- A 13th salary, similar to a holiday bonus, is mandatory. It is equal to the current
December salary, and must be paid by December 20th. If the domestic help
worker has been with you for less than one year, it is a proportionate payment
Note: It cannot be stressed enough that you must record pay, vacation time or
pay the 13th salary payments specifically in the work booklet
- Payment of transportation (vale transporte) to and from your residence is expected
- Monthly INSS payment made by filling out the appropriate form. The amount to
be paid varies according to the salary received. An updated chart can be found
online at
- Retirement fund (fundo de garantia) is a monthly payment, and the voucher has
to be printed from an online form through
 Working Hours and Time Off: A maximum of 44 work hours per week. One day off
per week; Sunday is usually the day of choice. In Brazilian homes, Saturday is
typically a half-day (4 hours) and the help is free to leave after lunch, to return on
Monday morning
- The law doesn’t list any obligatory holidays; however, most people give their
workers major holidays off, or develop a holiday schedule
- A paid vacation of 30 days must be given after any domestic help that has
worked for you for one year. The date of the vacation is up to the employer and
the dates should be noted in the work card. In addition to when the worker goes
on vacation, one-third of their monthly salary is paid as a vacation bonus
 Benefits and Leave: In case a worker is incapable of working due to illness, the first
15 days will be paid by the employer, treated as paid sick days. From the 16th day
on, the worker will receive an illness benefit through INSS
- A paid maternity leave of 120 days is given to female domestic help worker. If the
worker wants to come back after only part of that time off, she would then earn
double the salary for the remaining days worked to the end of leave time
- Male domestic help workers receive five paid days off for paternity leave
immediately following the birth of his child