Brazilian courts rule on teacher salary and workload issues

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has established a timeline for applying the national minimum wage for temporary public basic education teachers in Brazil. In a unanimous decision regarding ARE 1487739, the court ruled that for states that have not yet implemented the floor, the effects will begin on January 1, 2027. The ruling, led by rapporteur Alexandre de Moraes, preserves ongoing lawsuits filed before April 16, 2026, and respects final judicial decisions that already recognized this right.

Separately, the Court of Justice of Goiás (TJGO) unanimously rejected a claim by the Sintego union for overtime pay and salary differences for state teachers. The court ruled that recent changes to the teaching statute, which reorganized how class hours are calculated, did not increase the legal 40-hour weekly workload or reduce salaries. The judges determined the changes merely corrected the conversion between 50-minute class periods and 60-minute clock hours, aligning the actual workload with the legal requirement.