Are You Ready for a 3x Salary Termination Cost in Brazil?

Employee rights Brazil vs USA: the shock.

✘ Mito

In USA: fire anytime, no severance

✓ Verdade

In Brazil: it can cost you over 3x the monthly salary

40%

Employer penalty on all FGTS deposits upon termination without cause

You cannot contract out of these rights, no matter what the employee agrees to.

Notice pay + 13th salary + vacation

Plus 40% FGTS penalty on all deposits

Total often exceeds 3x monthly salary

Dica

Never rely on verbal agreements. A simple misclassification or wrong termination reason can trigger full severance plus moral damages. Always involve a Brazilian labor lawyer early.

Real case: a marketing manager earning R$5,000/month for 2 years. Termination without cause can cost over R$15,000 — mandatory, non-negotiable. At-will does not exist here.

Protect your business from costly labor surprises in Brazil.

Talk to our experts