BrazilintermediateReviewed· 2026-08-03

File a labour claim in Brazil

Brazil's specialist labour courts hear employment claims with a mandatory conciliation hearing and, for lower-value claims, a simplified procedure.

Timeline: 8-18 months at first instance
Cost: No fee for claimants earning below the threshold; lawyer required except in the simplified track
Steps: 7 stages

Deadline — read this first

Two years from the end of employment, covering claims for the preceding five years.

Any current or former employee, including workers seeking recognition of an employment relationship.

1
Compile the employment record
Gather the CTPS work card, payslips, timesheets, FGTS statements and termination paperwork.
2
Choose the track
Claims up to 40 minimum wages may use the rito sumaríssimo, which is faster and allows self-representation up to a limit.
3
File the reclamação trabalhista
Submit through the PJe electronic system to the Vara do Trabalho covering the place of work.
4
Attend the conciliation hearing
Attendance is compulsory; failure to appear can lead to dismissal of the claim or a default judgment.
5
Present evidence at the instruction hearing
Witness evidence is central in Brazilian labour cases, especially on overtime and working conditions.
6
Receive the sentença
The judge rules on each head of claim, with interest and monetary correction applied.
7
Appeal if needed
Recurso ordinário to the Tribunal Regional do Trabalho within eight days; a deposit is required from employers.

Missing the two-year window after termination, which extinguishes the claim entirely.
Failing to attend the conciliation hearing in person or by authorised representative.
Overstating overtime without corroborating witnesses, which damages credibility on all heads.

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