Young apprentices in Brazil: age, pay, working hours and rights

*A young apprentice (jovem aprendiz) is someone aged 14 to 24 who works while also taking an apprenticeship course. The contract is a special written contract, lasts up to 2 years and guarantees formal registration, the hourly minimum wage, 2% FGTS, vacation and the 13th salary.*

Quick summary

• Age: 14 to 24 (no age limit for people with disabilities).
• Length: up to 2 years (except for people with disabilities).
• Hours: up to 6 hours a day; up to 8 hours for those who have completed primary education, counting theory class hours.
• Pay: at least the hourly minimum wage (R$ 7.37 in 2026), unless a higher minimum applies.
• FGTS (the Severance Indemnity Fund): 2% of salary.
• Prohibited: overtime and compensatory hour arrangements (art. 432 of the CLT, Brazil's Consolidated Labor Laws).

Apprentice rights

• Registered work card stating apprentice status.
• Enrollment and attendance in an apprenticeship program and, if secondary school has not been completed, at school.
• Vacation, preferably coinciding with school holidays for under-18s.
• 13th salary, transportation voucher and other CLT rights.
• A safe workplace: under-18s cannot do night work, unhealthy or hazardous work.

Apprentice quota

Medium and large companies must hire apprentices equal to 5% to 15% of employees in roles that require professional training (art. 429). Micro and small businesses are exempt from the quota.

End of the contract

The contract ends at its scheduled end date, when the apprentice turns 24 or, earlier, for insufficient performance, serious disciplinary misconduct, unjustified absence from school causing loss of the school year, or at the apprentice's request (art. 433).

Step by step to check your contract

1. Check that the contract is in writing and mentions the apprenticeship course.
2. Check in the Digital Work Card that the employment appears as an apprenticeship.
3. Compare your salary with the hourly minimum wage and the category's minimum pay.
4. Check the 2% FGTS in the FGTS app.
5. If something is wrong, contact the training institution, the union or file a complaint with the Ministry of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the age range for young apprentices?

From 14 to 24; for people with disabilities, there is no maximum age.

Do young apprentices earn the minimum wage?

They receive at least the hourly minimum wage for hours worked and in class, unless a higher minimum applies.

Are apprentices entitled to unemployment insurance?

When the contract ends normally, generally not, because there is no dismissal without cause.

Read more in this series

• Internships: intern rights under Law 11,788/2008
• CLT worker rights: complete guide
• CLT vacation: rules, splitting, selling days and double pay
• FGTS: how to check it, when to withdraw and how the 40% penalty works
• Index: complete guide to labor rights