Brazil Supreme Court suspends mental health regulation fines

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has unanimously confirmed a decision to suspend fines for companies that fail to comply with mental health regulations under Regulatory Standard No. 1 (NR-1). The suspension, originally ordered by Minister André Mendonça, will last for 90 days to facilitate negotiations between the government and businesses.

The NR-1 update, which took effect on May 26, expanded occupational risk management to include psychosocial factors such as moral harassment, excessive workloads, and abusive targets. The suspension specifically targets administrative sanctions and coercive measures rather than the regulation itself; companies remain responsible for identifying and preventing mental health risks in the workplace.

The decision follows concerns regarding the clarity of the current rules. Data from the Ministry of Social Security indicates a significant rise in workplace-related mental health issues, with over 546,000 leaves of absence recorded in 2025.