CLT payroll loans in Brazil (Crédito do Trabalhador): 35% margin, FGTS as collateral and what happens on dismissal

*The Workers' Credit program (Crédito do Trabalhador), created by Provisional Measure 1,292/2025 and converted into Law 15,179/2025, allows employees with a registered work card to take out payroll loans directly through the Digital Work Card app, with installments deducted from pay. Total installments cannot exceed 35% of disposable pay, and FGTS can be offered as collateral.*

Quick summary

• Taking out the loan: through the Digital Work Card app, comparing bank offers; the employer is not involved in the choice.
• Margin: up to 35% of disposable pay.
• FGTS collateral (optional): up to 10% of the balance and up to 100% of the termination penalty. FGTS is the Severance Indemnity Fund.
• Interest: a cap of 1.99% a month on loans secured by FGTS, under the 2026 regulations.
• Dismissal without cause: the outstanding balance is deducted from severance (up to 35%), then from the FGTS collateral and the penalty.
• Portability: you can move the loan to another bank with lower interest.

What happens if you are dismissed

1. The employer deducts from severance up to the permitted limit — see TRCT.
2. If debt remains, the bank may use the FGTS pledged as collateral and the 40% penalty, if you authorized it.
3. The remaining balance can be renegotiated or deducted at your next job.
4. On resignation or dismissal for cause, the FGTS collateral is not triggered.

Precautions before borrowing

• Compare the Total Effective Cost (CET), not just the interest rate.
• Check whether the installment fits your budget after other deductions — see Deductions from salary.
• Pledging FGTS as collateral reduces what you will have if you are dismissed.
• Be wary of offers by phone or message; borrow only through the official app or the bank's channels.

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer stop me from taking out a payroll loan?

No. The loan is agreed between the worker and the bank, through the app.

Can I pay it off early?

Yes, with a proportional reduction in interest.

Read more in this series

• Deductions from salary: what the employer can deduct
• FGTS: how to check it and the 40% penalty
• TRCT: how to check the termination form
• How to read your payslip
• Index: complete guide to labor rights