Brazil’s Top Court Gives Congress 24 Months to Enact Worker Protections Against Automation

Overview

• The Supreme Federal Court unanimously recognized a legislative omission and set an October 2027 deadline for a specific law on safeguards against job displacement by technology.
• The case stems from ADO 73 filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office in 2022, citing the lack of regulation of Article 7, XXVII of the 1988 Constitution.
• Ministers indicated that affected workers may seek judicial remedies even without a new statute, and the Court could set protective parameters if Congress misses the deadline.
• The Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, and the Solicitor General’s Office argued there is no omission due to pending bills and warned that a court-imposed timeline risks separation-of-powers violations.
• The justices emphasized retraining and social safety nets for a just transition rather than halting technological progress, with suggestions that Congress could address issues such as mass dismissals tied to automation.