Relief workers (folguistas) in Brazil: what they do, how the schedule works and their rights

*A relief worker (folguista) is an employee hired to cover colleagues' days off in rotating schedules — common in building staff, hospitals, restaurants, gas stations and retail. They are a CLT employee like any other: limited hours, paid weekly rest, vacation, 13th salary and FGTS. The difference is the schedule, which changes according to the days off they cover.*

Quick summary

• Relationship: an ordinary CLT employee with a registered work card (the CLT is Brazil's Consolidated Labor Laws).
• Hours: the same limits as others (now moving toward 42 and 40 hours a week with the end of 6x1).
• Weekly rest: mandatory, including for those covering days off; in retail, at least one Sunday every three weeks.
• Holidays worked: compensatory day off or double pay.
• Different roles: if they regularly cover a better-paid position, there may be a pay difference.

How the relief worker's schedule works

The relief worker works on the days the regular staff are off. So the schedule often varies week to week and post to post. Even so, the employer must:

1. Publish the schedule in advance, so the worker can plan their life.
2. Guarantee weekly rest of 24 consecutive hours, in addition to 11 hours between shifts — see Rest between shifts.
3. Respect daily and weekly limits.
4. Pay the supplements for each post covered (night work, unhealthy conditions, hazard pay).

Points to watch

• Working outside one's role: regularly covering a better-paid position may give the right to the pay difference — see Working outside your role and accumulating roles.
• 12x36 schedule: the relief worker for a 12x36 team follows that schedule's rules — see 12x36 schedule.
• End of 6x1: with two rest days a week, demand for relief workers tends to rise and schedules must be redone — see End of the 6x1 schedule.
• Travel between sites: travel time during working hours, on duty, counts as work.

Frequently asked questions

Do relief workers get days off?

Yes. They have paid weekly rest like any employee.

Do relief workers earn more?

The law does not provide a specific supplement. A collective agreement may, and the supplements for each post covered must be paid.

Can the relief worker's schedule change every week?

It may vary, but it must be announced in advance and respect rest periods and working-hour limits.

Read more in this series

• Paid weekly rest (DSR): rules and calculation
• 12x36 schedule: rules and the end of 6x1
• Working outside your role and accumulating roles
• Working on Christmas and New Year's: rules for retail
• Index: complete guide to labor rights