Hiring & Recruiting in Brazil
Capital
Brasilia
Official Language
Portuguese
Currency
Brazilian Real
Payroll cycle
Bi-monthly
Quick facts about Brazil
The sixth largest country in the world by population, Brazil is home to the most species of plants and animals in the world. As one of the world’s most diverse countries, Brazil is a hub for talented workers from all backgrounds. Known as a melting pot, the country has some of the largest Italian, Arab, and Japanese communities in the world.
When it comes to hiring and recruiting in Brazil, there’s a lot that employees (both Brazilian and foreigners) and employers need to know.
In the hiring process, Brazilian business practice puts a strong emphasis on personal relationships, so having a strong understanding of the culture is essential before doing business in the country.
Recruiting in Brazil: What employees need to know
When it comes to finding employment in Brazil, job seekers have a number of options. Many employers have opted to use social media accounts (like Instagram and LinkedIn) to post jobs for open roles. Some companies reach out directly to potential employees through social media or post job ads.
If you want to get a better sense of what positions are available, check out job boards on websites like LinkedIn and Indeed. About 2 in 3 Brazilian employers use job boards when recruiting employees in the country. Many new postings include information about salary, benefits, sick pay, parental leave, paid leave, vacation time, 13th-month bonus, and other forms of compensation.
Another option is for employees to use a recruiting agency. Unfortunately, these recruiting agencies can charge large fees for both the employer and employee. This means you need to choose wisely.
Getting hired in Brazil as a foreigner
Foreigners and expats looking for jobs in Brazil need to make sure that they meet all of the necessary requirements for obtaining a work permit and work visa in Brazil. There is a minimum amount of professional experience as well as educational experience required to obtain a work visa in Brazil.
Brazil has a wide range of new employment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, medicine, hospitality, education, and technology. Job seekers need to hone in on their own specialized skills and begin researching potential employees, as well as applicable labor laws and employment laws in Brazil.
Brazil’s national language is Portuguese, so being able to read, write, and speak in the language is a plus. Many employees in Brazil also have a working knowledge of English and/or Spanish.
Compensation packages in Brazil
In addition to base salary, employers offer benefits such as vacation, a bonus, sick leave, and other resources. According to Brazilian tax laws, employers are required to pay into social security as well.
In general, employers offer a higher salary and more vacation hours to an employee with more experience. The amount also depends on years of service with the company. Candidates should be prepared to negotiate for a higher salary and more paid time off (PTO) in booming sectors such as tech.
Hiring in Brazil: What employers need to know
Employers have a bit more of a difficult job when hiring and building a team in Brazil, thanks to government regulations. There are a large number of laws safeguarding employee rights, so employers must follow all Brazilian regulations in order to avoid potential litigation.
Brazil is one of the more employee-friendly countries globally. Employees are entitled to a large number of benefits when onboarding with a company in Brazil.
Because of the large range of mandatory benefits, many employees do file legal actions against their employer after leaving a company. It’s important for both the employer and employee to understand their legal rights as well as have strong written employment contracts in place at the time of hire.
In Brazil, employers cannot run background checks on potential employees during the hiring process unless it pertains to the specified job. Brazil protects employees from discrimination for past criminal convictions as well as any ongoing criminal cases. In these sticky situations, it is better to ask for legal advice in order to avoid any future legal actions for discrimination.
In Brazil employers can’t discriminate during hiring for any of these reasons:
Origin
Sex
Marital status
Family situation
Disability
Age
To avoid breaking employment laws against discrimination, employers should avoid putting any language in job ads that relate back to these terms or ask personal questions during interviews about their personal life.
As the official language in Brazil is Portuguese, employers need to have someone who knows the language, or hire an official translator to help draft important documents and employment contracts.
To avoid future legal actions, employers (at the time of offering a new job) need to provide a physical copy of the employee’s offer letter as well as a legal employment contract, which should include information about salary and benefits.
Hiring compliantly in Brazil: When to know if employees need a work visa
All foreign workers that are being employed in Brazil must have a work permit. That process must be put into motion by their employer. The only way for an employee to obtain a temporary or permanent work visa in Brazil is to have the application process started by their employer through a work permit.
Why companies partner with Via
Many companies want to hire talent and start building a team in different countries, but aren’t exactly sure how to go about legally paying employees and following payroll and tax laws. Using an EOR service like Via makes this process easier and helps companies comply with all necessary payroll laws in Brazil.
With Via, we help you hire, onboard, and pay remote employees across the world. As your employer-of-record abroad, we take care of the local human resources (HR) logistics, such as salary, payroll, benefits, paid leave, and tax deductions. Maintaining compliance is our responsibility. You simply focus on building your team and running your business.
