Ortobom fined 300,000 reais by Brazil's top labor court over gender bias in management

Brazil's Superior Labor Court (TST) upheld a fine of 300,000 reais against mattress manufacturer Ortobom for collective moral damages after a public civil action found that the company's Arapongas plant in Paraná had no women in any of its 22 managerial or two sub‑managerial positions. The court ordered the firm to meet progressive gender‑balance targets – 20% of management roles to be held by women within one year and 30% the following year – to create a career‑development program for women and to ensure that at least 40% of candidates for managerial vacancies are female.

Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo‑CE) publicly criticized the ruling, arguing that it imposes gender criteria over merit and could set a risky precedent for other Brazilian companies. He also used the occasion to call for stronger regulation of sports betting, citing concerns about debt and mental‑health impacts.