Maternity benefits and parental employment rights in Brazil and Portugal

In Brazil, regulations for the 2026 maternity benefit require certain categories of workers to meet specific contribution criteria. While employees with formal contracts (CLT) and domestic workers access the 120-day paid leave without a minimum prior contribution period, other groups face different requirements. Individual contributors, self-employed professionals, micro-entrepreneurs (MEI), and rural workers must demonstrate at least 10 prior social security contributions or 10 months of continuous field production to qualify for the benefit.

In Portugal, data from the Commission for Equality in Work and Employment (CITE) reveals labor vulnerabilities regarding parental rights. In 2025, over 1,700 communications were received regarding companies refusing to renew fixed-term contracts for pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding mothers, or individuals on parental leave. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 8,299 non-renewals, 534 dismissals, and 544 terminations during probationary periods were reported involving these groups. Additionally, reports highlight a gender pay gap, noting that in 2023, the average wage gap between men and women reached 15.4% when including all remuneration components.