Brazil Moves to Expand Paternity Leave to 30 Days, Phased From 2027

Overview

• Relator Pedro Campos unveiled a unified text that would raise leave from 5 to 30 days on a stepped schedule beginning January 1, 2027, progressing 10/15/20/25/30 days through 2031.
• The proposal covers adoptive fathers and self‑employed contributors to Social Security, including MEIs, broadening eligibility beyond formal employees.
• A new salário‑paternidade funded by the RGPS would ensure full pay during leave, with employers reimbursed via tax offsets and self‑employed workers paid directly by Previdência.
• Employment protection would bar dismissal without just cause from notice to one month after the leave, and the benefit could be split with the remainder taken within 180 days.
• Adjustments to Empresa Cidadã would let participating companies extend the benefit up to 45 days by 2031, as the STF signals it could act if Congress stalls and the Chamber’s president signals a vote in early November.