Brazil expands paternity leave and court upholds 180‑day maternity leave for temporary hospital worker

Law 15.371/2026, approved in Brazil, widens statutory paternity leave from five to twenty days and creates a new “salary‑paternity” benefit. The legislation seeks to strengthen family bonds but raises concerns about its fiscal and operational impact. Analysts estimate an indirect cost rise of 1.5 %‑3 % per year for firms, especially in commerce and services, which employ over 70 % of the formal workforce. Public spending on parental benefits could increase by 0.2 %‑0.5 % of GDP.

In Joinville, Santa Catarina, a court ruled that a temporary‑contract health worker at a municipal hospital must receive the full 180 days of maternity leave normally granted to permanent public servants. The decision emphasizes constitutional guarantees of equal protection for maternity and could set a precedent for similar contract workers across the public sector.