Brazil judges and prosecutors gain flexible vacation rules allowing up to 178 days off

The Conselho da Justiça Federal (CJF) and the Procuradoria‑Geral da República (PGR) approved new rules that let federal judges and members of the Ministério Público split their statutory 60 days of annual leave into up to twelve five‑day periods. By aligning these short breaks with weekends, the 104 weekend days and the 18 days of judicial recess, officials can reach as many as 178 days of rest per year.

The change creates a sharp contrast with private‑sector workers, who legally receive about 78 days (six‑day work week) or 124 days (five‑day work week) of leave. The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has also authorized monetary indemnification for up to 30 days of unused vacation, a provision that generated a case where a Pernambuco judge earned R$1.3 million in a single month for such indemnities. Transparency Brazil warned that the new flexibility could be used to intensify time off or affect compensation structures.

The reform does not alter overall salary levels but may allow magistrates and prosecutors to schedule more frequent short vacations, potentially impacting public‑sector staffing and public perception of judicial privileges.