Brazil updates
Employment & Immigration
Contributed by CGM AdvogadosGuidelines on preventing COVID-19 in the workplace
- Brazil
- 08 July 2020
The Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Health recently published Joint Ordinance Number 20, which provides the measures that employers must observe in order to prevent, control and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in their workplaces. This article highlights what employers need to know about the joint ordinance.
Is COVID-19 a labour-related disease?
- Brazil
- 20 May 2020
Article 29 of Provisional Measure 927, enacted on 22 March 2020, states that infection with COVID-19 is not considered a labour-related disease unless a relationship between the disease and the employee's job or occupation can be evidenced. Several institutions, especially political parties, have questioned the constitutionality of this provision before the Supreme Court.
COVID-19: emergency employment and income maintenance programme
- Brazil
- 15 April 2020
Provisional Measure 936 (PM 936) has been published and aims to maintain employment and preserve employees' income, while ensuring businesses continuity and reducing the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article highlights the main aspects covered by PM 936 and the relevant issues affecting labour relations.
Coronavirus in Brazil: what employers need to know
- Brazil
- 25 March 2020
With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continuing to affect the world – and employment law – this article answers FAQs for Brazilian employers. For example, can companies cancel job offers prior to the start date? And who pays for employees' time away from work due to COVID-19?
What is PM 905 and will it lead to another labour reform in Brazil?
- Brazil
- 19 February 2020
Provisional Measure 905/2019 (PM 905) was recently published in the Official Gazette, creating a new type of employment agreement specifically designed to incentivise companies to offer individuals aged between 19 and 29 their first formal job in exchange for benefits relating mainly to payroll taxation. The final decision regarding PM 905 should happen after April 2020 but, in the meantime, companies should seek legal advice while implementing the proposed changes.
Energy & Natural Resources
ANP issues draft resolution regarding foreign trade activities
- Brazil
- 08 October 2018
The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels recently published Public Hearing and Public Consultation Notice 13/2018. The notice divulges a new draft resolution to control foreign trade activities relating to biofuels, petroleum and its by-products and natural gas by-products. The draft resolution also revamps the previous consent procedure for requests to import and export these products in view of the new resolution and provides for subsidies.
Brazil takes new steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Brazil
- 24 September 2018
Since 2017 Brazil has been developing an environmental public policy which supports a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, the Ministry of Mines and Energy instituted the RenovaBio programme, a federal and state programme which seeks to identify and review all types of biofuel in the Brazilian energy sector based on certain criteria. Further, the National Council for Energy Policy is expected to implement a 10-year plan to ensure an 8.6% reduction in the petroleum market.
Decommissioning in Brazil – business opportunities and new regulations expected
- Brazil
- 03 September 2018
The decommissioning of aging offshore units and related assets is a challenge for the oil and gas industry – not only in Brazil, but also worldwide. As such, the players involved in decommissioning projects – including the authorities, operators and subcontractors – should keep up to date with the relevant requirements and best practices in order to transform potential market crises into opportunities.
Environment & Climate Change
Corporate criminal liability under Law of Environmental Crimes
- Brazil
- 10 September 2018
Article 3 of the Law of Environmental Crimes constitutes Brazil's sole provision regarding legal entities' liability. This clause intended to help to increase legal certainty by restricting the circumstances under which a company may be held criminally liable to those where there is evidence of wilful misconduct by its senior executives or board. However, an examination of court practice shows that many federal and state prosecutors have failed to comply with these legal requirements.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Health sector transparency laws
- Brazil
- 05 September 2018
Since 2016 Minas Gerais has been establishing transparency laws to create a system whereby consumers and society at large will be able to access information regarding incentives and payments between healthcare professionals and the health industry. Under the state laws, the health industry must provide information on the relationships that they maintain with healthcare professionals which may represent a potential conflict of interest.
Insurance
Appellate court rules that subrogated insurers assume same rights and limitations as assureds
- Brazil
- 16 July 2019
A recent Sao Paulo State Appellate Court case concerned a carriage of goods by sea from Port Everglades (United States) to the port of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The court's decision sets an important precedent in recognising that subrogation cannot be used to reinstate a right that no longer applies where a rights holder fails to observe a legal requirement. Therefore, subrogated insurers assume the same rights and limitations as assureds.
Court finds P&I club not directly and jointly liable for associate shipowners' debts
- Brazil
- 21 August 2018
The Sixth Civil Chamber of the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Appeals recently decided that a protection and indemnity (P&I) club was not liable for an associate shipowner's debts. In its decision, the court distinguished the P&I club from insurers operating in the Brazilian insurance market. This decision is paramount because it creates an important court precedent regarding P&I clubs' liability for the damages caused to third parties by their associates.
