Brazil's Senate Approves Law Allowing Religious Work Hour Adjustments and Attire Accommodations
Brazil's Senate approves a bill enabling work hour adjustments and attire accommodations for religious reasons.
- • The Social Affairs Commission approved a bill allowing work hour adjustments for religious reasons.
- • The law permits wearing religious attire and symbols at work in both public and private sectors.
- • Workers must request schedule changes 15 days in advance; employers may only refuse with justification.
- • Unjustified refusals allow contract termination with labor rights preserved.
- • The bill bans questions about religion during job interviews and includes protections in public service hiring.
Key details
On March 25, 2026, Brazil's Social Affairs Commission (CAS) approved a landmark bill (PL 3.346/2019) that permits workers to adjust their work schedules for religious reasons and wear religious attire and symbols at work. Initially proposed by former deputy Wolney Queiroz and amended by Senator Paulo Paim of the Workers' Party, the legislation applies to both private sector employees and public servants.
The bill allows adaptations such as shifting weekly rest days, modifying daily hours, or changing work shifts to accommodate religious observances, provided adjustments comply with the employment contract hours. Workers must submit requests 15 days in advance, and employers may only deny them with reasonable technical or legal justification. Unjustified refusals empower private workers to terminate contracts and retain labor rights, whereas justified refusals permit resignation without prior notice.
Additionally, the law prohibits discriminatory questions about religion in job interviews and mandates religious accommodation in public service competitive exams and appointments.
Senator Paulo Paim emphasized the state's role in protecting religious freedom and diversity, stating, "The role of the state authority is not to remove tension through exclusion or limitation of pluralism, but to ensure that religious groups tolerate each other, especially when individual or collective interests are at stake." This legislation represents a significant stride in Brazil's commitment to religious inclusion and workplace rights.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
