A major shift in the rules of the game
Brazil’s 2017 labor reform significantly changed how employment relationships work — more flexibility in agreements, new contract types, less rigidity in several areas.
What changed in practice
- Employers and employees gained more room to negotiate directly.
- Intermittent work emerged — hired only when there’s demand.
- Outsourcing broadened, reaching even a company’s core activities.
Why this complicates workplace safety
With more contract types and more outsourced staff, it becomes more challenging to guarantee everyone receives the right safety training — regardless of contract type.
What did NOT change
However flexible the employment relationship became, safety standards remain just as mandatory — the reform made contracts more flexible, not safety.
Pay attention if your company uses these models
If your company has intermittent or outsourced workers, it’s worth reinforcing: the responsibility for their safety still exists, regardless of the different employment arrangement.