Salary reduction in Brazil: when the employer can reduce pay and what the worker can do

The Constitution guarantees that salary cannot be reduced, except as provided in a collective agreement (art. 7, VI). In other words, the employer cannot reduce salary on its own decision or through an individual agreement with the employee. Reductions without a valid collective agreement can be claimed in court, with the differences for the whole period.

Quick summary

• Rule: salary is irreducible (Constitution, art. 7, VI).
• Exception: reduction provided in a collective agreement, with compensating benefits.
• An individual agreement to reduce salary is not valid.
• Reduced hours with proportionally reduced pay also require collective bargaining; switching to part-time depends on the employee's choice as provided in a collective rule (art. 58-A, §2).
• Detrimental changes to the contract are void (CLT, art. 468 — the CLT is Brazil's Consolidated Labor Laws).

Common situations

• Cutting commissions or changing the percentage without agreement — see Commissioned salespeople.
• Removing a supplement while the risk continues (unhealthy conditions, hazard pay).
• Position bonus removed when returning to the regular role: since 2017, the law allows removal (art. 468, §2).
• Demotion with reduced pay: generally illegal.
• Off-the-books pay cut: the amount can be incorporated in court — see Off-the-books pay.

End of 6x1 and salary

Constitutional Amendment 141/2026 reduced maximum hours while prohibiting salary reductions for that reason. If your monthly salary fell along with your hours, ask for a correction.

What to do

1. Compare payslips before and after the change — see How to read your payslip.
2. Ask for the collective rule that would authorize the reduction.
3. Record your disagreement in writing.
4. Contact the union or claim the differences within 2 years after the end of the contract.
5. A serious, unilateral reduction may justify constructive dismissal.

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer reduce my salary if it is in crisis?

Only through collective bargaining with the union.

I signed a document accepting the reduction. Is it valid?

As a rule, no: an individual agreement cannot reduce salary.

Read more in this series

• How to read your payslip
• Deductions from salary: what the employer can deduct
• Constructive dismissal
• Transfer of workplace
• Index: complete guide to labor rights