Brazilian Law Promotes Women’s Rights and Benefits in the Workplace

Aimed at the inclusion and retention of women in the workforce, a new Brazilian Law, Programa Emprega + Mulheres, was enacted at the end of September. The law adopts various measures to support female workers—especially those who have children—such as childcare reimbursement, flexible work schedules, and a focus on prevention of sexual harassment and other forms of violence at work.

The program will:

• Provide support for early childhood parenting and daycare reimbursement. Companies with 30 or more female employees are required to provide accommodation to said employees’ children during the breastfeeding period. Alternatively, employers can reimburse the employee for the required childcare. In addition, employees are entitled to daycare assistance for children up to six years old.
  
  
• Enable working mothers with more flexible work regimes, such as teleworking, part-time, and flexible working hours.
  
  
• Allow women to keep certain positions for professional advancement.
  
  
• Support women to return to the workplace after their maternity leave ends.
  
  
• Offer government micro-credit grants for women who start new businesses.
  
  
• Ensure women get paid equally compared to their male counterparts.
  
  
• Emphasize prevention of sexual harassment and other forms of violence at work. The Internal Commission for the Prevention of Accidents and Harassment is responsible for implementing measures to assist women in these situations.