World Cup and Employment Law: The Rules of the Game Must Be Clear Before Kickoff

During every FIFA World Cup, questions inevitably arise regarding the adjustment of working hours and the possible release of employees during Brazil national team matches.

What Does the Law Say?

The Brazilian Labor Code (CLT) and collective bargaining instruments — including collective bargaining agreements and collective labor agreements — are the primary legal frameworks governing this issue.

There is no specific legislation addressing the World Cup. For this reason, it is particularly important for employers, employees, and, where applicable, labor unions to establish clear rules in advance regarding work schedules during the tournament.

Below are some key points that deserve attention:

• Time Compensation: If an employer chooses to release employees during matches and require them to make up the missed hours at a later date, the legal limit is two additional working hours per day. Any arrangement exceeding this limit requires authorization through a collective bargaining instrument.

• Time Bank Arrangements: The use of a time bank (bank of hours) cannot be imposed unilaterally by the employer. It requires prior agreement, preferably formalized either individually (for arrangements lasting up to six months) or through a collective bargaining agreement or collective labor agreement (for longer periods).

• Night Shift Work: For employees working night shifts, the applicable rules remain unchanged. Night shift premiums and the specific regulations governing night work continue to apply regardless of the sporting calendar.

Why Does Legal Certainty Matter?

An employment relationship is, above all, a relationship built on trust — and trust depends on clarity.

Employees who are informed in advance of the company’s policies can organize their schedules accordingly, while employers that adopt procedures consistent with applicable labor laws reduce risks and strengthen legal certainty within their businesses.

The absence of clear communication and appropriate legal instruments, such as time-compensation agreements, contractual amendments, or provisions in collective bargaining instruments, may give rise to future disputes and potential labor liabilities.

For that reason, the rules of the game should be agreed upon before kickoff.

Our Labor & Employment team is available to assist with this and any other employment-related matters.