Minimum working age in Brazil: rules for under-18s
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In Brazil, work is allowed from age 16, or 14 as an apprentice. Under-18s cannot do night, hazardous or unhealthy work. The rules explained.
Brazil's Constitution forbids any work under age 16, except as an apprentice from age 14 (art. 7, XXXIII). Between 16 and 18, adolescents can have a signed work card, but cannot work at night, in hazardous or unhealthy activities, or in the worst forms of child labor listed in Decree 6,481/2008.
Quick summary
- Under 14: no work is allowed.
- 14 and 15: only as an apprentice, with an apprenticeship contract.
- 16 and 17: regular registered employment, with restrictions.
- Forbidden until 18: night work (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.), hazardous, unhealthy and TIP List activities.
- School: work cannot harm school attendance.
What adolescents can and cannot do
Under-18s have the same rights as any employee: salary, vacation, 13th salary, FGTS and INSS. In addition:
- Vacation: students under 18 may have work vacation coincide with school holidays (CLT, art. 136, § 2).
- Overtime: only in exceptional cases set out in the CLT (art. 413).
- Termination: minors may sign salary receipts, but the final release on termination requires their guardians' assistance (art. 439).
- Forbidden places: settings harmful to moral development, such as nightclubs.
The TIP List
Decree 6,481/2008 lists the worst forms of child labor, forbidden until 18. They include domestic work, heavy construction, waste collection, operating dangerous machinery and slaughterhouse work.
How to report
Child labor can be reported to Disque 100, the Guardianship Council (Conselho Tutelar), the Labor Prosecution Office (MPT) or the Ministry of Labor's reporting channel on gov.br.
Frequently asked questions
At 15, can I work with a signed work card?
Only as an apprentice, in an apprenticeship program with a training course.
Can under-18s work at night?
No. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. it is forbidden for anyone under 18.
Can an adolescent be a domestic worker?
No. Domestic work is on the TIP List and is forbidden for under-18s.
Read more in this series
- Young apprentices: age, pay and rights
- Internships: intern rights
- How to report labor violations
- Index: complete guide to labor rights
Topic: this guide is part of Types of employment contract, with all the guides on the subject.
Official sources consulted
- Federal Constitution — art. 7, XXXIII
- Decree 6,481/2008 — TIP List
- CLT — arts. 402 to 441 (work of minors)
Informational content, updated in October 2026. This does not replace an individual analysis of your case.
Informational content produced by the Human Case editorial team based on official public sources. Does not replace individual advice.
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